Showmag.com invites your comments on reviews or published articles. To: Letters at Showmag I don't understand why you have no coverage of The Starlight Theatre in San Diego. They have some great productions. MeCoop2@aol.com August, 2003 Rob Stevens reviews productions for Showmag in the south county and San Diego. Here is his reply. I live in Los Angeles. I manage to travel to San Diego for theater weekends on an average four to six times a year. I have been doing this since 1989 when I was a columnist for the national edition of BACKSTAGE. I continue to do it because I think there is very good theater in San Diego, and it deserves wider recognition. I usually see four shows each weekend I am there. I try to cover most of the major theaters at least once during the year, but because of the theaters' schedules, that is not always possible. I often miss productions at Sledgehammer, North Coast Repertory, even San Diego Rep because of the timing involved. I usually arrange my travel plans around the Old Globe's season since they usually have two and sometimes three shows running at the same time and can accommodate my request for tickets for Saturday and Sunday matinees. The Starlight presents a problem in that their runs are short and only have evening performances. I did cover Starlight in the 1990s, both at the Bowl and also at the Civic Theatre and the Spreckles. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get on their press list since they started up again a few years back and usually don't find out about their productions until I am in San Diego and already pre-booked with four shows for the weekend. April, 2003 To Rob Stevens I just read Rob Stevens review of Trailer Trash Housewife. Boy did he miss the boat. As a woman who lived through a storm similar to Willadean's, I found the blend of comedy and tragedy not only brilliant, but necessary in order to watch this grueling piece of gut-wrenching theatre. I guess if it's not Carousel (yawn) or Beehive (puh-leeze), it's just not good theatre to Mr. Stevens. Ignore Mr. Stevens' review and listen to all the others -- otherwise, you will miss what I feel is the best orginal play to premiere in LA in a decade. And that cast and music. Oy! Enough. RUN DON'T WALK. Louise S. Seeger May 8, 2003 I disagree with some of Rob Stevens review. Maybe being a big fan of Del Shores' work colors my opinion, but I think he has written another gem. I attended "...Trailer Trash Housewife" several weeks ago with friends, and we all loved it. I work for a battered women's shelter, and Willadean's character had the right mixture of strength and weakness, which are characteristics of a lot of battered women. Mr. Shores did his homework and got it right. I saw a previous play of Del Shores, "Southern Baptist Sissies" in its first run in L.A. several years ago four times. I think this latest work of his will garner the same attention, awards and respect. The cast is great and the play has a good mix of humor, trash, and drama. Don't miss it! Julie Kasperson