Play’s Still the Thing

As an American actor, I appreciate and agree with a lot of what Sir Peter Hall had to say in “Shakespeare’s American Accent” (March 13).

I do, however, take exception to Sir Peter’s statement that Los Angeles actors are here not to act but to wait. The A-list actors he mentioned are undoubtedly booked up with projects for months if not years in advance. But for every Dustin and Gwyneth, there are scores of well-trained Los Angeles actors who would welcome the chance to work with Sir Peter.

I was especially hurt by his statement that theater cannot figure in our “calculations except (briefly) on the way up, or perhaps even more briefly on the way down.” Ouch! He seems to be suggesting that the only actors who do theater in this town are newcomers and has-beens. If Sir Peter has the time, he will find a number of theater companies made up of working actors who are able to devote part of their lives to producing good theater. Many of us commute directly from the sound stage to the 99-seat theaters spread all about town.

FRANK COLLISON

Los Angeles

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There is not a single actor or actress Hall mentions in his piece that does not have name recognition. Where were the casting notices for Hall’s repertory company? I fear Sir Peter’s company (in spite of the naked faeries in “Midsummer Night’s Dream”) will look like any other Ahmanson production, full of beautiful “stars” signifying nothing.

TERRENCE BEASOR

Santa Monica