Politically Correct Plays

I just read Don Shirley’s piece on Taper, Too and its fine efforts at promoting new plays by oppressed groups (“A Brand-New Life for Taper, Too,” June 7).

I fear this well-intentioned, white-liberal-guilt approach to theater development is the reason the audiences are staying at home for anything other than Andy Webber or Disney. L.A. theater is often the entertainment equivalent of a hair shirt. I don’t want to pay 80 bucks to see another show about what a racist, sexist homophobe I am. I bear that sad burden every day.

What we need is some “outreach” to good playwrights, period--even if they have the misfortune of being straight white guys who don’t happen to be deaf or in a wheelchair. I’ve always heard those theories that Shakespeare might have been gay. I bet he started these rumors so he could get his works produced in Los Angeles.

TIM DOYLE

Glendale