To the Editors:
Regarding Simon Donoghue’s letter “Rep Disses Locals” (CL, May 8), I wish to correct a few of the author’s misunderstandings and misrepresentations.
I’m pleased that the writer enjoyed Proof, directed by Steve Umberger. Steve’s production constituted a cast of two great local actors and two great actors from New York City (including the lead). As a whole, Steve’s final season as the Rep’s artistic director featured 15 non-resident actors out of a total of 33 roles, or 45 percent. As we move into our 26th season, and a new era of professional theater in Charlotte, we are continuing this tradition of fusing two pools of professional theater artists — local and national. The only difference is that, in certain cases, the visiting artists will bring with them prolific Broadway experience. We believe that our talented local professional artists will enjoy and benefit from working side-by-side with these visiting artists, as will the Rep’s ever-growing audience. The new Rep administration is, and always will be, extremely interested in cultivating local talent.
Mr. Donoghue states that Steve Umberger “won’t be directing for the Rep,” which is false. In addition to his new projects, Steve will direct plays for the Rep on a freelance basis in future seasons, and will always be a valued part of the expanding Rep family.
Donoghue also states that the new Rep administration seems to have confused its mission with that of the Broadway Lights Series. This is a good opportunity for me to explain the difference. Broadway Lights, through the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, is a “presenting organization” that brings tours of professional productions, which have originated elsewhere, to Charlotte. The Rep is a “producing organization,” creating professional productions of plays and musicals from the ground up, using impressive local and national talent. It is our mission to do so, and we are not confused on our mission. Professional theater now means “made in Charlotte.” We are indebted to the numerous people who support our work, artistically and financially.
When the writer introduces the topic of public funding into his personal opinions about our casting, he makes a spurious connection. We are extremely grateful for the generous support we receive from the Arts and Science Council, without whom we would be unable to provide the Central Carolinas with professional theater of the highest caliber. The NC Blumenthal PAC also receives ASC funding in support of its programs.
I would like to personally welcome Mr. Donoghue to the Booth Playhouse next season, where he will witness gifted local and national artists, quality productions of engaging works of theater, and the artistic commitment of the new Rep administration.
Matt Olin
Managing Director
Charlotte Repertory Theatre
Developing New Projects
To The Editors:
In response to “Rep disses locals” (Letters, May 8), I appreciate Mr. Donoghue’s comments about my work and that of my colleagues over the years at Charlotte Rep. It is a rare and great gift to be part of such a wonderful family of talent for so long. And 25 years is a long time! I now feel that I’ve accomplished what I can at the Rep, and happily I also feel that Charlotte has grown large enough and diverse enough to not only support, but demand, different types of endeavors. So while some of my future work will be out of town, I am also excited about developing a few new projects here. I look forward to this new era for the Rep, and for all of us, as we move forward to create a richer, fuller artistic life in Charlotte.
Steve Umberger
Charlotte
BDSM Story On The Money
To The Editors:
I’m a 37-year-old man who has been active with D/s organizations for over seven years and been a semi-public speaker and workshop presenter on D/s issues and techniques for more than four of those years. The article “Bound and Determined” (by Elizabeth Chapel, May 8) has got to be the most accurate, realistic, well-researched and responsible piece on BDSM I’ve ever seen outside of the BDSM community itself. I didn’t get a chance to read every single word due to my own schedule, however after reading the first three quarters of the article I had not encountered even a single error and was left impressed enough that I felt compelled to take a moment to submit this feedback!
Thanks for showing the rest of the world the “Lifestyle” in an accurate, realistic light rather than the immature “Beavis and Butthead” kind of slobbering, sophomoric light that is so often used when dealing with anything that is sexually unusual in today’s society.
Again, thank you for getting it right!
NoCyberDom (NCD)
Charlotte
We Don’t Want Your Teens
To The Editors:
Thank you for the excellent article by Elizabeth Chapel on the underground world of Kink, Domination, Submission and Power Exchange. Very well written, and something that we “underground” people most certainly need. . .good press.
We are not out to convert your teens. As a matter of fact, the credo we live by is “Safe, Sane, and Consensual” in all aspects of our lives. We help one another within our growing community, plan family events as well as BDSM events. We don’t drink or drug as we play, nor do anything else risky. Don’t you wish everyone’s neighbors were as kinky as we are?
Tiffany Connor
Charlotte
Analyze Your Beliefs
To The Editors:
Why doesn’t everybody analyze their belief system like Amy Keith? (“A Clean Break,” May 1) Decide for yourself when it comes to religion and not buy into it because somebody said you should. From what I’ve seen and read, the Catholic Church has more than its share of depraved leadership. Religions preach love and salvation, but it becomes a cover for greed and power. No more, no less.
The thrust of most religions is the power to control the people. Most of the time the subjects are willing. They have little independent thought. They often believe what they are told from childhood and don’t want to question the authority of the church because they always assumed it was right.
When leaders use religion as a tool of their motives, people tend to fear and fall in line because everyone else does. They don’t have the strength of education to challenge the priests or the likes of David Koresh or Jim Jones or the Baghwan. Who is challenging Benny Hinn? Do you really believe he’s healing those people? He’s a showman using religion. And so is Cardinal (Out) Law and many of his Catholic brethren.
Why didn’t somebody say, “Jim Bakker, you’re a fraud”? I watched it for 15 years and the people just kept lining up for more. The powerful churches, large or small, are usually led by charismatic leaders. I wonder how people feel who made donations to Bakker, the Baghwan, and the pedophile priests in the Catholic Church?
I’m not part of any organized religion. Hallelujah!
H.A. Thompson
Charlotte
Comfortable And Safe In An SUV
To The Editors:
As a 45-year-old self-professed “soccer mom,” I have to reply to Lucy Perkins’ rantings about SUVs (“Highway to Hell,” April 24). Sorry Lucy, but with two leggy and still-growing teens with weighty backpacks and bulging soccer bags, I do need my Jeep Grand Cherokee for trips to school and the soccer fields. I also need its V-8 engine to safely merge onto Charlotte’s crazy highways.
I know what you go through, however, in a compact car because I used to drive a Jeep Wrangler Sahara, which, true to its name, had the pickup of a camel. I admit that I drove this small off-road vehicle so as not to feel like an old fogey and, except on the highway, I miss it terribly.
So there, I don’t feel young and cool in a big SUV, just comfortable and safe. Lighten up, Lucy, and be a little more charitable toward us old fogeys; you’ll be one of us soon.
Alexa MacPherson
Charlotte
It Ain’t Me, Babe
To The Editors:
Regarding the letter from Tressie McMillan (“Slavery Through The Ages,” May 8): I merely asked in my previous letter, “Where would reparations begin?,” since many descendents of slaves are not descendents of African slaves. The subject was reparations, not the accepted horror of slavery.
Nowhere in anything I have ever said or written in over 50 years has suggested that I did not think slavery — all slavery — is horrendous. I cannot believe that Ms. McMillan is so blinded by bitterness that she doesn’t know that I and all intelligent people agree that “. . .transgressions occurred.”
She agreed with me that Africans sold Africans, but her “yadda yadda” usage lost me.
She proved my point about her not wanting to acknowledge white help in the struggle and I did not use the terms “well-meaning” whites, she did. When I marched and protested for human rights in the 60s, and then later was a charter member of the Libertarian Party and the first SC Chairman, it wasn’t that I was well-meaning, I did it because I loathed the oppression and exploitation of anyone, no matter their ethnicity.
Hate and bitterness are branches of ignorance and will never solve our racial problems. I still think forgiveness would help, but that’s a choice others must make. I am certainly not the enemy of racial accord. I am not part of the problem.
As for Christopher Freeman’s sophomoric attempt to distort the meaning of my letter (“Own Up To Racial Wrongdoing,” May 8), I will only say, Of course I am sorry slavery, any slavery, ever existed, but there is no way I can personally admit to a non-existent racial wrongdoing on my part; maybe he can.
Charles Blackwell
York, SC
This article appears in May 15-21, 2002.
