Replacing the ‘Irreplaceable’

Thanks for the April 29 articles about incoming Phantom Robert Guillaume and the gracious observances of exiting Michael Crawford.

I saw the superb Dave Willets starring in “The Phantom of the Opera” in London and was fortunate to also see Crawford in the role a week before his departure from Los Angeles.

Entering the Ahmanson, however, I was disturbed by comments I overheard. There was a buzz concerning how irreplaceable Crawford was--and who could imagine a “black Phantom”?

I have followed Mr. Guillaume’s musical theater career for about 20 years and couldn’t have hoped for a better choice. It’s too bad some people are limited in life because they are not “colorblind.”

DAVE HUTCHINSON

Mission Viejo