Countering ‘Camp’ Review

Re Laurie Winer’s review of “Camping With Henry and Tom,” (“ ‘Camping’ Casts Little Light on the American Psyche,” July 23). I realize I can do little about the judgments of critics, but I do believe they have an obligation to report the facts to the public. Among many other critical achievements, “Camping With Henry and Tom,” by Mark St. Germain, won the 1995 Outer Critics’ Circle and Lucille Lortel awards for best off-Broadway play. Winer is entitled to her opinion but why does she neglect to tell the Los Angeles theater-going community that she is reviewing a multi-award-winning production?

This play and production has an interesting Los Angeles history, which Winer failed to provide the reader. I was disappointed that she did not at least commend the Pasadena Playhouse for its efforts in developing this new American drama. In 1991, when I was artistic director at the Playhouse I received the first draft of St. Germain’s new play. I decided to produce “Camping” as soon as possible and my collaborators at the Playhouse, Lars Hansen and David Houk, enthusiastically supported the idea. During the next year the Playhouse sponsored several developmental readings of the work with prominent actors and then announced the play as a subscription offering.

When we were unable to secure a suitable cast, the Playhouse, rather than compromising the potential quality of the production, decided to reschedule. Consequently, “Camping With Henry and Tom” was produced by the Berkshire Theater Festival to great acclaim and was subsequently presented off-Broadway where it received very positive critical and audience response. Finally, in 1996, we were able to return this play to the theater that had first recognized its value. The Pasadena Playhouse should be congratulated for its long-standing commitment to this new American work.

PAUL LAZARUS

Los Angeles