Letters

Maria A. Sproul
Dallas

Real again: I lived in Sunny South Dallas from the mid-'80s through the early '90s; I even knew somebody who knew somebody who knew these people, and I couldn't have told it better. Ms. Lyons told this story as if she'd been there and done that...in fact, she left me with only one unanswered question: "Why the hell did you guys give it away?" This story should have been placed between two paperback covers and sold for CA$H! It took me back...it made it real, again.

Marcia Minger
Dallas

Human wreckage: I read "The Girl Who Played Dead" last night and wanted to compliment you on a fine piece of work. Your article took me back to the highly charged, crack-fueled days of the '90s. I'm glad much of the violence has subsided, but the human toll is heartbreaking.

Cari Weinberg
Via e-mail

Observer fan: I just had to write and say your article "The Girl Who Played Dead" was amazing. Your writing style flowed smoothly, and I had such a vivid picture of the scene and background. I just recently moved to Dallas and am now definitely going to read the Dallas Observer every week.

Kate Axt
Carrollton

Ouch: I started reading "Girl" and couldn't stop until I had finished every word. Congratulations on fine, thoughtful work. That said, this was my favorite sentence: "Up until that point, she'd only tried crack once, courtesy of Lizzie's sister, who died recently, and hated it."

I'll bet you're right.

Mike Warren
Dallas

Remembering Lizzie: I have never stopped after reading an article to write a letter of praise, yet here I am after reading "The Girl Who Played Dead." As a Dallas native, I remember that period vividly, but nothing has put it into a better time capsule than your article. Great work. Please do us all a favor and continue to work with the spirit of Dallas in mind, especially when we have to remember people like Lizzie Williams.

John Taylor
Dallas

Goblin Damn'd

The loss was yours: If Ms. Liner were a competent reporter, she would know that the night she chose to view the play and criticized the costumes was the night the actors "made do" with two hours' notice that they had no costumes ("Bard to Tears," by Elaine Liner, July 10). Alas, the actors' costumes were part of a robbery at a cleaners. Also and alas fortunately for residents of Dallas, more notable reviewers gave early and favorable reviews of Hamlet, and by word of mouth and those drawn to the quality of presentation the crowds grew with each performance. If anyone was sucked into poor Ms. Liner's at times illiterate review and stayed away because of it (which I sincerely doubt), the loss was theirs. Ms. Liner's flawed, untimely and predictable review showcased her failings yet again. Ms. Liner presents herself more as a goblin damn'd than as an angel and minister of grace.

Lee Ann Torrans
Via e-mail

Editor's note: A few letter writers have stated that an announcement was made about the missing costumes before the performance. Ms. Liner heard no such announcement on the night reviewed.