MAGIC MOMENTS

Your article “Disneyland in a New Light” (by Rick VanderKnyff, May 18) appeared to have been written in advance of a May 13 special performance of the Light Magic show that was sold as an event “premiere” party to annual pass holders at $25 a head.

After watching this “premiere” (which was only then announced at showtime as a “rehearsal”) I found it interesting to later read in the article a quote from an executive at the park saying: “From a pure technical and theatrical standpoint, we’re doing things that no one would have ever thought of. We’re breaking all the rules this time.”

I do have to agree that a lot of “rules were broken” that evening; at the end of the show that night the audience did what “no one would have ever thought” and they booed this sorry mess. The longest line afterward was not for one of the many happy attractions, but to get a refund at Main Street U.S.A.’s City Hall (which, to the park’s credit, they offered with no questions asked).

A long Disneyland tradition of quality showmanship ended with a show so totally dependent on effects (none of which worked) that it came across lacking precisely those qualities of heart and storytelling Disney has been so famous for.

AL LUTZ

West Hollywood

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Lutz runs the Web site D-I-G (Disneyland Info Guide) at https://members.aol.com/alweho.

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I was one of many “privileged” season pass holders who attended the Light Magic parade at Disneyland, and to say it was a disaster is an understatement. The music was unmemorable and the dancing unremarkable.

This is one Light Magic that should be dimmed immediately!

ERIC CAIDIN

Los Angeles