I would like to thank the artistic director at Pioneer Memorial Theatre, Charles Moray, and all his talented staff for the excellence they have brought to theater in the Salt Lake Valley. Since Mr. Moray took over at PMT, the quality of the productions has increased tremendously. PMT offers a great variety of plays - from Shakespeare, to musicals, to dramas, to farces and comedies, to the best of modern drama and even to two original works written by the artistic director himself. All have been professionally performed, costumed and directed.
As for the unfortunate criticism from Richard Marshall, I am sorry he was so offended by the "strong language" in "Conversations With My Father" that he missed a wonderfully thought-provoking drama that dealt with a Jewish man's struggle to balance his "Jewishness" with his being a new citizen in America. It was a very human drama and had much to say - if you were listening.Perhaps Mr. Marshall should not have attended this particular play since he was unable to understand or appreciate it, but please, Mr. Marshall, don't suggest that others should not have that opportunity.
Regarding the criticism from Mr. Richard Rees. He freely admits he has not even seen a play at PMT for quite some time, and yet he has the audacity to attack the theater in total ignorance. This kind of self-righteous paranoia seems to smack of book burning and witch hunts.
I would hate to see Salt Lake City lose its only professional, mainstream, quality theater because of the provincial narrowness of a few. Let's fight some real enemies - bigotry, intolerance, ignorance and hatred. Appreciate the excellence in theater that PMT represents, don't destroy it.
Susann Neeley
Salt Lake City