THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 26, 1994 TAG: 9411230010
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Regarding ``Russian troupe's `Nutcracker' shines despite amateurish setting'' by Sue Smallwood (review, Nov. 19): A casual glance at the inappropriate headline would have hidden the praise that the reviewer lavished on the performance after the second paragraph. She enjoyed the evening as much as I did.
As for the children's chorus, and even the raffle, I congratulate the Russians for knowing enough about market forces in a democracy to realize that the ``preamble by a shuffling children's chorus'' (local children) added greatly to the enjoyment of the children and parents and perhaps sold as many as 300-400 tickets to adoring families.
My wife and I have seen the same ballet in New York's Lincoln Center (at twice the cost). The Russian troupe's dancing was superior even though the dancers had to do without a live orchestra in the pit.
Your presentation of the review is another instance of emphasizing the negative rather than the positive in headline writing. I am not sure that this attitude sells more newspapers.
PAUL W. ROBINETT
Portsmouth, Nov. 20, 1994 by CNB