BLACK BOBBY

Don Shirley notes in his Theater Notes of Dec. 24 that the current London production of “Company” has cast “Adrian Lester, who is black, as Bobby--apparently the first time a black man has played the role.” I beg to differ. I produced and directed a non-Equity production of “Company” in March of 1992 at the Wilshire Ebell Theater starring Kenny James as Bobby.

Kenny was the black singer who had the longest-running win streak on “Star Search,” among other credits. Additionally, I cast one of the couples as a black couple and cast the stewardess as black as well so as to not “ruffle” any political feathers of having an interracial bedroom scene.

DAVID HOCK Los Angeles