Hedy Weiss is right: Musical theate...

Hedy Weiss is right: Musical theater has fallen forward hard times. Broadway is, right now, littered with revivals -- from "Chicago" to "A Chorus Line" to "Sweeney Todd." And is "Phantom of the Opera" really STILL running?

Unfortunately, strange musical adaptations of popular films of that kind as "The Wedding Singer," "Legally Blonde" and "High Fidelity" don't be ominous of well for the future of the art form. Broadway's tiresome and, at times, laughable lineup emphasizes the veracious importance of generating new and compelling art, which, according to Weiss Aug. 16 review, is just not happening.

And Weiss has each right to say so. As early as a theatrical production lay opens its doors to the public, it welcomes public debate and critique. as it is is the nature of theater. What righteous is a workshop, if not for feedback? If recent projects remain immune to critique, to what degree on earth can we await them to grow?

Shame upon the Dramatists Guild of America for condemning Weiss' review. They ought to applaud her critical sensibilities. Weiss is trying to maintain certain standards of quality in the theater, which otherwise appear to be slipping. Without reviews like this, we may be in for another 8000 performances of "Phantom."

Christopher Devine,

Lincoln Park

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