I am not really sure what Van Halen show Scott Mervis was talking about, but it was certainly not the April 30 show in Pittsburgh ("Concert Review: Eddie brings the sizzle to Van Halen," May 2).

First off, all the people have spoken and Sammy Hagar has been officially erased from Van Halen history.

This tour proves that tenfold. The David Lee Roth version of Van Halen is and was the only version anybody cared about.

It is just plain silly for you to say that Roth did not deliver. He looked and sounded great. He is the fun and Miller time in Van Halen and it shows in the music they perform with him.

Your assessment of the Van Halen show could not be more wrong.

Scott Bailey
Corry

I think the Van Halen review was dead-on accurate. I was there on the floor, and I also left the show disappointed. And this is a guy who owns every record they've ever pressed and seen them with all three singers.

Something just wasn't right, and it was hard to put my finger on it.

Nathan Ward
Brentwood

As Scott Mervis noted in the Van Halen review, there indeed is a problem with this band. But it's Alex, not David Lee Roth's raspy voice or Eddie's left hand mechanics or more "in-the-safe-box" approach to improvisation.

Alex rushed almost every song. And his playing is too busy and he lacks proper dynamics, even for a rock drummer.

Eddie and Wolfgang had trouble keeping up with Uncle Speed Racer because he kept either pushing the tempo inappropriately or he accelerated slightly when doing a long fill clockwise around the whole kit.

This, in effect, pushes the 1 beat early, which can be cool, but not if the effect is to up the BPM. This caused a lack of synchronization between bass, drums, guitar unless Wolfie and Eddie followed him down the rat hole.

By the way, yep I'm a musician/songwriter and I play a bunch of instruments. And no, I can't rip it up like EVH.

Chris Fitzmartin
Forest Hills

So, Scott Mervis, how are your Elvis Costello albums? You were so off the mark on your review it's laughable.

Show me another frontman who brings it like Dave. You just don't get it and, obviously, you aren't a VH fan.

Sylvain Eudes
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A friend from Pittsburgh (my hometown) sent me the article on the Van Halen concert and I just have to tell you, I completely agree. I saw them last Thursday in Dallas and told everyone the same thing: Dave doesn't have it anymore, but the Van Halen boys sure do.

And as for the "Marge" rendezvous, the same exact story with the same exact woman was told by Dave in Dallas, so I'm pretty sure Dave is full of it.

Sydney Bird
Shreveport, La.

I am wondering if Jo Ann McDougall of Imperial was at the same Sunday night performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar" as my friend and I were? ("Weekend Feedback: 'Superstar' not so super," May 1). If she was, she must have been watching some other show because I found no faults.

Ted Neeley, who has been performing this role for the past 35 years, hit all the notes he needed to hit to "make his point now." I did not find him "sad and tired" in the least.

Certainly, Corey Glover has great range and was able to show the internal conflict facing Judas. Mr. Glover is no Carl Anderson, but then no one is, and I truly miss Carl's incredible voice.

Mary Magdalene was lovely and tender and I could hear her conflict as well.

Oh, yes, the sets. Obviously Ms. McDougall has never before experienced minimalist theater, which this presentation was at the best. If the performance was so poorly done, what could possibly explain the standing ovation at the end of the program. The people sitting around me wanted an encore but how can you improve on an ascension?

Anyway, I am breathlessly waiting for Ted Neeley and his crew of excellent performers to make their way back to Pittsburgh for another set of shows.

Bobbe Klimovich
Dormont

I have to agree with the letter concerning "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Benedum. Jesus was too old, had calculated movements, was hard and stiff with no singing ability except for screaming. Yes, he was the original Jesus in the movie version from the '70s. But let's grow up and find a Jesus who can sing and act.

Pilate and Herod were the highlights of the show. Both stole the show with their superb stage presence and singing. It was great to see it again after so many years, and, yes, I was sorely disappointed.

Patricia Fedak
Hopewell

When I was first told of the disagreement between poet Jan Beatty and the Joseph-Beth Bookstore, I was told the store had banned her book and I was indignant. Your news article of April 22 ("Bookstore and poet in war of words over reading") indicates that the store did not ban her book, but asked her not to read aloud certain poems the owners felt were not suitable for the ears of children who might be in the store during this reading.

My opinion on this matter is not likely to be popular with Pittsburgh area poets. I have read my poems in the Joseph-Beth Booksellers store and I am aware that the children's area is quite near the reading area and voices carry.

As a poet, I understand Ms. Beatty's wanting the freedom to decide which of her poems she will read. As a mother and grandmother, I understand the bookstore's concern that sexually explicit poems not be broadcast into the ears of its juvenile patrons. A book on the shelf, which the customer may or may not choose to open and read, is different from a reading to be heard by anyone within earshot, willing or not.

I recently taught classes at a Christian writers workshop. I was aware that the participants might not be comfortable with some of my poems and, although I was not asked to do so, I omitted them from the lectures and handouts I prepared. I felt it would be disrespectful to my hosts to do otherwise.

Margaret Menamin
Murrysville