With great interest I have been following the high dudgeon embroiling the nascent Malibu Stage Company. I have lived here for only four years now, but I hope to make Malibu my home. So I’d like to see the company succeed and provide our community with the kind of theatre that we want and deserve. However, this will never happen as long as Charles Marowitz remains at the helm

Two years ago, I responded to an ad in The Malibu Times for a part-time position – business manager of MSC. I was reluctant to pursue it because of what I’ve heard of the dreadful reputation that Mr. Marowitz has in L.A.’s theatre community. But my optimism got the better of me and I made the phone call.

I met with Mr. Marowitz and it was clear that he was woefully ignorant of the realities of running a small, semi-professional theatre. He came across to me as a blow-hard, offering up a hackneyed vision and shop-worn platitudes. But to survive in entertainment, one learns to look beyond first impressions. So I listened politely and at the end of the conversation, I offered to draw up a production budget for an upcoming fund-raiser for the MSC – selections from the works of Shakespeare.

While putting together some numbers for this proposed evening of Shakespeare, it became apparent to me that Mr. Marowitz does not have an entrepreneurial bone in his body. His business model for the MSC reminded me of Henry Ford’s marketing philosophy for Model T’s: “They can have any color they want, as long as it’s black.”

A bone of contention for me was that Mr. Marowitz did not expect to pay any of the artists involved with the exception of a small permanent staff. But a hefty fee was included for the director. I refused to draw up a budget that did not include artists’ salaries, albeit modest ones. It was, and still is, my contention that we should not be dragging struggling actors up to Malibu to perform without paying them.

There is no reason that a vibrant theatre company can’t thrive in Malibu. The great regional theatres across the country prosper because they reach into the community and provide services – namely classes, lectures, musical programs, workshops, theatre rentals, festivals, etc. Germane to our unique community are activities like screenplay readings, nature poetry and photography contests, children’s interactive theatre, celebrity lectures, guest-artist residencies and senior activities. Leadership at MSC ought to be concerned with the needs of our funky little beach town a decade from now, not with preserving some other city’s culture.

That Mr. Marowitz has been unable to harness either the creative energies or the financial resources of the community over his tenure is clear evidence of his ineptitude. Ten years? The time of tyrants running regional arts organizations is past. Let’s move on. There are scores of able theatre professionals that will get results. Even for no money. Let’s give someone else a shot at it.

As for the business manager position I was pursuing, it turned out that there really wasn’t a job available. When it came to discussing where and when and how much, he said he couldn’t pay me and would I work for free?

For our own good, we must encourage the new Board of Directors to appoint new leadership for the Malibu Stage Company. The show must go on.

D. Paul Yeuell

I am a Malibu resident with a simple but important story. Two years ago, I was remodeling my home and needed help with the demolition. I drove to the Labor Center where I was given a number. The young man who had the matching number introduced himself as Hector. I was impressed he spoke some English. I told him to hop in the car and I would return him later. He told me he had his own car, would follow me, and again I was impressed.

Hector did the work I needed in a meticulous manner and I asked if he cared to return the following day for more work. A year and a half later, Hector is still working with me and has become as important to me as my own family.

He came here a few years ago from Guatemala. He and his wife and their two children live in a studio apartment in Inglewood. He has his work permit, a social security number, a credit card, a car and car insurance. He is in that seemingly eternal process of immigration to become a U.S. citizen. He wants that more than anything. He, like so many others, came here for a better life.

That is where this story really starts. Hector has taught me what I have to be grateful for to live in this country. Something I have never really stopped to think about. Something I and so many others have taken for granted. And now I want to pay him back for that priceless gift. So I decided to help him with this very difficult process that almost all those men face standing on the corner hoping to work doing anything.

I started by having my workmen teach him everything they could. He has learned carpentry, tilework, drywalling, painting — you name it, he can now do it.

I then thought about his living situation and what it would be like for a family of four to live in one room. I found out one basically needs four lines of credit to qualify for ever even being able to purchase a home. I added his name to a few of my credit cards and loaned him the money to buy a small house in Santa Monica. He, his wife, and daughters will live there until the house has appreciated to the point where he can sell it and have the profit to buy a home on his own. He will have some money, be a legal tax paying citizen, and have some good credit. He, his wife and his little girls can then have a chance and truly live the American dream.

Hector’s 43rd birthday is Sunday and the whole neighborhood where I live here in Malibu that have been hiring him as an all around fix-it-man have chipped in for various presents including “Handyman” business cards, a pager, a tool belt, some tools, but most of all I think, self esteem. He moves into his new home soon after his birthday. His oldest daughter will start the Immersion School in Santa Monica where she will learn English. She then moves right over to the regular Santa Monica McKinley Grammar school and his youngest will follow in her footsteps.

We are not rich. We are not famous. We are regular people that have done this because he has an appreciation for this country that all of us, quite frankly, had forgotten or even, more truthfully, never even had. He stands tall now and I now know and understand the American dream. Happy Birthday, Hector. And thank you.

This letter was submitted by a person who prefers to remain anonymous

FIT FOR A PHARAOH

After what seemed like enough time to raise the pyramids or build Tut’s tomb, “Aida” finally made its way to Los Angeles. For local music lovers, Giuseppe Verdi’s operatic extravaganza was well worth the wait. It has been called one of the best productions ever for the Los Angeles Opera with breathtaking sets, graceful staging and stellar performances.

The black-tie bash that followed was equally spectacular with a little help from co-chairs Carol Henry and Alyce Williamson. The Performing Arts Center Plaza was transformed into Egypt’s Valley of the Kings and provided a perfect backdrop for the Nile-style celebration. The well-clad guests graced a red carpet lined with palm trees and were greeted by the sight of sphinxes, mummies and sarcophagi. After a gourmet feast, several rounds of champagne and a few turns on the dance floor they sauntered home with the melody of “Aida’s” triumphal march fresh in their minds.

A REEL HONOR

Malibu’s Marcy Carsey was feted by Women in Film at the 2000 Lucy Awards Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. Every year, WIF honors industry professionals for excellence. Marcy had an impressive rise to the top. She started out as an NBC page and production assistant for “The Tonight Show,” went on to become a story editor and then a top exec at ABC-TV.

Over the years, she helped create classic comedies and dramas like “Taxi,” “Mork & Mindy” and “Dynasty.” Marcy is in good company, joining Barbara Walters, Angela Lansbury, Norman Lear and Gary Marshall who received Lucy Awards for their many career accomplishments. Marcy’s most recent role was playing host to a flock of friends at Brad and Jennifer’s Malibu beach wedding bash.

CUTTING LOOSE WITH BRUCE

Bruce Willis was having himself a grand old time at this year’s American Cinematheque Moving Pictures Ball. The Die Hard hero was the man of the hour as family, friends and fans gathered to celebrate his sixth sense for show biz success. The highlight of the evening, as always, was a light-hearted look back at the big guy’s wide range of roles (both forgettable and unforgettable) from “Moonlighting” to “Look Who’s Talking” to “Pulp Fiction.” The tribute will be broadcast on Turner Network Television on Sept. 27.

WOMEN ON TOP

As long as praise is being passed around, don’t forget Sherry Lansing. The Paramount Pictures Group exec will be lauded at this year’s Noel Foundation awards dinner on Oct. 14. Other honorees include Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Dharma Master Chen Yen. Malibu’s Olivia Newton-John, fresh from the Olympics, will serve as the event’s chairwoman.

It’s an important right that too many of us take for granted. In the 1998 election, barely a third of the eligible voters went to the polls. No one else can cast your vote. If you don’t vote, you are letting others decide the future of our community, our state and our country.

In order to vote in the coming election, you need to be an American citizen, 18 years and older. You need to re-register if you have moved since the last election.

This election will be especially important since, in addition to the presidential and U.S. congressional election, we will be voting on state legislators and several state initiative proposals, a Malibu councilman and three Malibu initiative proposals.

Become informed so that you can vote wisely. This is not easy, especially in connection with the initiative proposals, because the campaigns can be more to confuse than to inform.

Vote and take a friend, sister, brother, parent, colleague or neighbor to vote on Nov. 7. Let’s have a really good turnout here in the park. It is so easy since the polling place is our clubhouse and it is also possible to vote by absentee ballot.

Registration forms can be found at the post office, our park and the Malibu Library and our club house.

Dorothy Green

League of Women Voters

This Saturday, Karen and I went up to Pepperdine University for the inauguration of Andy Benton as the seventh President of Pepperdine University. The fact that Andrew K. Benton never calls himself anything other than Andy, tells you at once a great deal about the man. It would be near impossible for anyone to think of him as Andrew, or anything other than Andy.

We’ve known Andy since soon after we bought The Malibu Times more than a decade ago. I’ve interviewed him on occasion, watched him in action in the community, talked to him many times, visited with him and his wife, Debby, and their children in their home and at university events, and came to know them.

He is one of those people who manage to find the time to do everything. If he wasn’t such a sweet person you could hate him for it. He not only does his job superbly and has an active family, social and religious life, but somewhere along the way he manages to coach his kid’s teams. He also plays the guitar in a band of Pepperdine people, called the Mid-life Crises, which gives you some sense of the age of the band.

In all the years I’ve known him, I have never seen him lose his cool, at least publicly. Although I’m sure–like all of us living an overscheduled, overworked and over stimulated life–there is always a period when one goes home, rocketing off the walls. If those demons drive him, he’s never taken them out on anyone else.

I never doubted that he was a man who knows who he is and where he’s going, but this weekend I saw a side of him I have never seen before–a clear view of his sense of personal mission.

This Saturday the Pepperdine community put a medallion–a badge of office–around his neck and something was immediately different. Maybe he hadn’t changed, but the audience had. People were looking at him differently, to see his vision, his picture of the future, to serve as a guidepost for the rest. In his inaugural address, Andy talked about strengthening Pepperdine’s diversity. He said: “Clearly, we do not want to be a lonely outpost in Malibu, uninvolved in and unmoved by the great metropolis across the bay. As much as possible, we must reflect what is good and exciting about Los Angeles, including its diversity.”

To use an old clich, in my opinion, it’s time for a new beginning for all of us. Malibu is also part of that diversity. If the university has sometimes been parochial about us, we, the citizens of Malibu have been equally as parochial about it. The relationship between the university and some in our community of Malibu is strained and needs mending. Part is probably just the normal, almost historical tension that exists between town and gown, which probably exists all over the world. Part of it is maybe when the university opted out of the community. Part of it has been a shortsightedness of Malibu citizens. Many have approached the university as if it were nothing more than just a land-use and traffic problem. A university is so much more.

What was apparent as faculty and visitors marched into the ceremony in an academic processional, dressed in academic robes and caps that probably date from the Middle Ages, is that a university is also a community of scholars. It’s the flow of western culture passed lovingly hand-to-hand throughout the generations. It’s the reasoned discourse of reasonable people.

We should celebrate it. We have in our midst a rich resource of intellect that we little use and little appreciate, which is truly a shame.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Pepperdine has a new leader and it’s time for the community of Malibu to also show some leadership and try to mend the breaches.

Only a man from Hollywood or a screen/ TV writer/producer would dare equate our fine Pepperdine University (or any other Malibu business) to the Bourbon King.

I can see Mr. Sawyer has not done his homework.

When the proposed city lines were drawn, it cut Pepperdine in two–half in the city and half in the county. With the biased City Council, I’m sure Pepperdine would not have been permitted to proceed with building, which had already been approved by the county. So they had every reason to remain with the county.

And with all the bickering, I, too, am glad to live in the county.

What amazes me is how the critics of Pepperdine have the colossal nerve to use Pepperdine sports facilities and attend Pepperdine fine arts program, musicals, etc.

This same message goes to Malibu Road Property Owners Association. I believe in fair play.

E. Rita Templeman

The problem with the Malibu Stage Company is the on again, off again love/hate relationship between Jackie Bridgeman and Charles Marowitz. As you can see from their own letters written to Malibu newspapers, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to effectively run any organization under these circumstances.

I quote from Jackie Bridgeman’s letter of Oct. 14, 1999 in Malibu newspapers:

“His flaw, and it is major, is that he seems to view Malibu’s Theatre as his personal fiefdom–a stage for Charles Marowitz alone. And unfortunately for the community, he can be destructive in his single-minded pursuit of his lofty goals. Alas, I believe, after an eight-year association with him, that he lacks the temperament and objectivity necessary to work constructively with the community, and his own Board-chaos litters his determined path.”

Marowitz responds on Oct. 21, 1999.

“Ms. Bridgeman’s strong point has never been logic. Her views on participatory democracy have always been somewhat to the right of Genghis Khan. She was extremely valuable to the theatre in its earliest phase, but was removed from being an active board member and, as it were, ‘kicked upstairs’ to an honorary position, because the then Board was unable to get on with her.”

“The Malibu Stage company, which has never been without temperament, will not only survive her snideness, but develop even more strength as it moves forward with a replenished and expanded board.”

Jackie Bridgeman then responded on Oct. 28, 1999:

“It is apparent that anyone who sees matters concerning the theatre in a realistic light, according to Marowitz’s judgement, is negative, undemocratic and to the right of Genghis Khan,” as he describes me in the Malibu Surfside News.”

“Sadly, our artistic director chooses to find malice in every objective observation that is set before him regarding the Malibu Stage Co. For the past four years of my 10-year association with Charles Marowitz, he has relentlessly labeled my voice as negativism. Marowitz, it would appear, equates objectivity with negativity, a distortion of view that leaves him in perilous odds with reality.”

Eight of the 12 members of the Board of Directors of The Malibu Stage company resigned because we are sick and tired of this negativity associated with the Malibu Stage Company. We all decided we should move on to more positive and fulfilling projects and leave Jackie and Charles to abuse each other!

We wish the new board good luck!

P.S. NO Board member has ever engaged in negative letter writing, nor do we intend to do so in the future.

Alanna Tarkington