A Death in Laramie

Barbara Isenberg’s article on the Tectonic Theater Project’s “Laramie Project” (“At the Heart of a Modern Tragedy,” July 29) made it rather plain that the ensemble took its own prejudices along to Laramie, Wyo.

I lived in Laramie for a few years. I knew many gay people and was friends with several. None of them were persecuted or even looked at crosswise. The gay community thrived. There was no more homophobia in Laramie than elsewhere.

And suddenly Laramie became known to everyone because of a hate crime. Had Matthew Shepard not been gay, the heinous crime would have gone as far as the Denver Post perhaps. He was killed by a couple of vicious young men who wanted whatever money he had. His being gay had little, if anything, to do with his death. Feeling his “absence” can only be done by people who have felt his presence in the first place, not by an ensemble troupe, who essentially did nothing more than follow the trail of the press.

Had Shepard not been gay, Laramie would continue to be a sleepy university town at the edge of nowhere with people getting on with their lives and community spirit after a heinous crime had occurred. And therefore, “The Laramie Project” is not so much honorable as it is prejudicial.

PAULI PETER Los Angeles

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After Moises Kaufman’s determined work in bringing the tragedy of Matthew Shepard into the world of theater, one can only hope he will use his same brilliance to spotlight the tragedy surrounding Irvine’s Kenneth Teague, the former Boy Scout leader and Big Brother. He was convicted last month of 16 counts of molesting boys as young as 9 years old.

Who could not agree with Kaufman when he suggests theater that reflects current events is theater at its best. His next project awaits his deft hands.

RON MESZAROS

Malibu