Reviewing the Reviewers

At the risk of sounding immodest, I am a man of the theater. I have been exposed to theater in many great cities of the world, notably New York, London, Paris, Berlin, etc. I know great theater when I see it. I also know mediocre theater, as well as poor theater.

Philip Brandes was charitable with his review of “The Cat’s Meow” at the Coast Playhouse (Theater Beat, Oct. 31). For my money, it plays like something out of a community theater or college production. I know I’m in trouble when the highlight of a production is the changing of the sets.

My question to you at The Times is this: Do you view yourselves as reviewers or critics? What are your backgrounds that have brought you to your respective positions? Have you been exposed to extraordinary theater? Do you have a barometer, a yardstick if you will, with which to measure?

I have also been exposed to good and insightful reviewers and critics, and I lamentably acknowledge that the stuff I’ve read over the years coming out of The Times is pap. Where one would wish to find the offspring of Bentley and Brustein working in a major city in the U.S., one has to settle for Mickey Mouse--it’s all fluff and cotton candy.

Los Angeles has long been accused as a town that doesn’t take its theater seriously. It would be a major step forward if we could begin to take our reviewers seriously.

DAVID MILLER

Los Angeles