Fighting for Her Family

Gene Maddaus' cover story about a young woman fighting one of L.A.'s richest families for the right to see her daughter filled our mailbag this week (“Gone Baby Gone,” April 11). Some wrote in to support Crystabel Funes; others questioned the actions of her late boyfriend's parents, the Tutors.

Writes Lalena96, “I'm touched by this story. I hope she never gives up. These kids will grow up asking questions and demanding answers. Fight and never stop fighting — the greatest battles in life are those worth fighting for. It's important to understand what is right for these girls. Money can't buy love.”

Lance Marsh writes that the story moved him to tears: “I cried this afternoon on the Metro 733 Rapid. This story tells the truth of our American way of life. Kudos.”

Julieeking writes, “I hope she's still in therapy. She needs to start working on a life for herself — one that doesn't involve babies or men to 'save' her.” She adds. “The Tutors get no pity from me, but it's obvious they couldn't leave the child with her, just from the facts here of her not showing up at important meetings. She has lots of growing up to do and, yeah, it is hard. But not impossible. Let those two kids have a chance at an undramatic life while you get yours together. Later you can reunite, and you'll be a whole person for them.”

A few readers had stronger words for Funes. “Although her story is sad, she has taken no responsibility for her actions,” Joanna85 writes. “Until she owns her part of this tragedy, she will not heal.“

Rafael Calderon agrees. “As a former child-abuse social worker, I know: One cannot change behavior unless an acknowledgement of the past is owned.”

Take That, Vanity Fair

Last week, Vanity Fair opened a puff piece by taking a mean swipe at L.A. theater. “Los Angeles is teeming with actors,” Jimmy Im wrote. “So why is the theater so bad?” To the Weekly's Steven Leigh Morris, those were fighting words. He blasted back in an online-only essay that had readers cheering (“Hey Vanity Fair, We Don't Need Movie Reenactments to 'Save' L.A. Theater,” April 11).

“Excellently put, Mr. Morris,” Cinemaman8 writes. “Thank you.”

Fanofvdo writes, “As someone who is just back from a theater trip to L.A., I can say that I was surprised by how much good theater L.A. has to offer. Now they just need to find a way for out-of-towners to find it on public transport! But while the theater I saw was great, the thing that amazed me was how few people go see it and engage with what they see. Actors do their thing, but I think they also play off the audience's energy, their reactions and their opinions. I found a big part of the L.A. audiences more aloof than, say, the audiences in cities like Chicago, London or Dublin. Get with it, L.A. people, or slowly your theater will disappear.“

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