Letter to the Editor: Embrace the Past

Taking nothing away from them for what they are doing now with TAP, I would like to respond to Bob and James regarding TAP’s theater past.

Perhaps they are unaware of this, because they weren’t around to witness the work when it was being done, but there was quality theater being presented at TAP before they took over in 2011 – quality community theater. There are those who fondly remember, among others:  Our Town, On Golden Pond (twice), The Good Doctor, Barefoot in the Park, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (twice), The Odd Couple, Tuesdays with Morrie, and the final show, Stepping Out. There were also radio dramas which were presented on stage, among them, It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 3rd Avenue. The quality of these works was recognized and applauded by the most important critics of all:  the audiences who came to see them.

The lack of pay for their work on and in these shows did not diminish the overall performance quality of them, as the people who put in their time and efforts (some of whom are now paid by TAP) would agree. The motto of another community theater is very apt here:  TAP presented “Quality theater in a Community Theater setting.” The fine work being done there now by Bob and James would in no way be diminished by their acknowledging the fine work having been done there before them. Rather than erasing TAP’s past, I suggest they should be embracing it.

Bill Bauernfeind

Sturgeon Bay, Wis.