LESBIAN THEATER

I hadn’t planned on responding to the “What’s to Celebrate?” letters (July 19) until I realized that I owe it to the Ivy Theatre as well as to any other lesbian artist out there who might be of similar mind.

In regard to William Platt’s frustrations with artists who group according to race, gender or sexual orientation, I say, “You think you’re frustrated?” I have been working in theater for the last 20 years, more often than not playing a heterosexual woman with heterosexual desires and heterosexual life experiences. Now that is frustration! To want to play Maggie or Stella or any of the other great ladies but always having to stretch beyond what any of my straight female acting partners must--that’s frustrating. It is like Ginger Rogers dancing backward--in heels. I am sure she loved to dance as much as Fred Astaire, but I’d say he had an edge.

As far as Michelle Mindlin’s letter about redirecting our mission: This is equally as frustrating. Why can’t a lesbian-specific theater feel as though it has the right and, indeed, the responsibility to limit its audience to no one. Just because we are lesbian does not mean that we can’t reach out to every potential audience.

I’ve been watching, as well as working in, straight theater for years. I’ve been entertained and indeed moved. There is no reason to believe that a straight audience member can’t be equally as moved and entertained by what a lesbian theater has to offer.

MARIAN JONES

Founder and Artistic Director

The Ivy Theatre

Los Angeles