How About the No-Shows?

After reading your announcement about the annual benefit concert for AIDS Project L.A. (“Commitment to Life Concert Due Today,” July 18), I purchased tickets.

The box office charged us $56 for the $50 tickets stated in The Times. Their only explanation was, “These are the prices.”

Almost none of the performers you mentioned were on the bill for the concert. No Cher. No Dolly Parton. No Babyface. No Cyndi Lauper. No Mary J. Blige. No Nancy Sinatra!

The money is going to an excellent cause, but how could the L.A. Times deceive the public? How could you announce these stars the day of the show and not know who was performing? We came to support the charity and see the stars announced. Don’t you check the facts? Why lead us astray?

The show was good, but lackluster! Your review (“Committed to Hope & Excellence,” July 20) was way too gushing and did not even mention all the cancellations and promised and promoted stars. Robert Hilburn didn’t even mention the hundreds of people who walked out on Neil Diamond’s performance at the end of the evening.

It’s not the money, the charity or the fact that stars have the right to cancel because of other “commitments.” It’s the fact that the L.A. Times announced a totally fictitious show.

MATTHEW JEREMY

Beverly Hills