HIGHLY ILLOGICAL

In his article on Brian Stokes Mitchell (“From Coalhouse to Hot Stuff,” June 29), Sean Mitchell states that “one doesn’t look too hard for logic in the lyrics of musical theater.” Mr. Mitchell, meet Mr. Hammerstein, Mr. Lerner, Mr. Loesser, Mr. Sondheim, Ms. Comden and Mr. Green, Mr. Harnick, Ms. Fields, et al.

As for the case of “Wheels of a Dream” in “Ragtime,” the fact that the dramatic elements of the story seem to contradict or undercut the hopefulness of the lyrics is the very element that makes that emotion of the song powerful and effective--the contrast is moving, compelling and, dramatically speaking, exceptionally logical. In “Carousel,” it is at the moment she is slumping over her tragically killed husband that Julie Jordan is told to hold her head up high in the storm. That’s why it breaks our hearts.

I’m not sure exactly what Mr. Mitchell meant in his statement, but if he can offer up a single illogical lyric from any of the aforementioned gentlemen and ladies, I’ll buy him his next ticket to “Ragtime.”

BERTON AVERRE

Pacific Palisades

*

We attended a recent performance of “Ragtime.” We were struck by the strangest similarity and wondered if we were the only ones who noticed it.

The main character in the piece, Coalhouse Walker Jr., is a man who feels strongly that a grave injustice has been perpetrated by society. He becomes extremely angry and takes violent steps against those he feels were the causes of the injustice. In fact, he kills people and sets bombs that are intended to kill others. As the hero of the piece, he is lionized and glamorized.

Now there is another chap who feels that society has committed injustices against certain of its members. He takes out his anger by setting a bomb that kills people. This one ends up condemned by all and awaiting execution in a federal prison. One doubts whether Timothy McVeigh will ever be the subject of a hit musical that is destined for Broadway and an almost-certain Tony Award.

For our part, we feel that they were both wrong and misguided to take such violence into their own hands. But were we the only ones who saw a similarity between the two?

MR. AND MRS.

RICHARD J. WARREN

Van Nuys