GETTING ‘GREEN CARD’

As one who saw both “ ‘night, Mother” and “Green Card” recently at the Mark Taper, I take offense that there seems to be any critical acclaim for something, like “Green Card,” that pretends to be a professional play.

There is just no comparison in any sense, especially artistic. I can understand that some people found “Green Card” so meaningful. There are those who can find meaning in anything. In previous times, they used to consult chicken entrails.

I can also imagine how the “play” (read “collection of skits”) was originally written. Akalaitis arrived at the initial rehearsal with a sheaf of clippings (probably from Time magazine), and the play was written by a committee of those present, with the author intruding only to provide praise and to prevent any core of cohesion or content from creeping in.

Ony the most free-spirited dilettantism could have produced such fluff from a topic so compelling. I did applaud the cast; they were magnificent.

N. A. LOUIE

Seal Beach