Go ahead with Belke Fringe show

Re. “Fringe bounces Belke play,” Aug. 10

After entering into an agreement with Holy Trinity Anglican Church, a long-time Fringe venue, on Aug. 1 in which “safer-place” issues were presumably dealt with to the satisfaction of all parties, the Fringe’s executive director announced days later that he was reneging on the agreement on the basis of unspecified “community feedback.”

The insult to established Edmonton playwright David Belke, who has served his time and is under no legal restrictions on his activities, couldn’t be clearer. The collateral damage to the actors and others involved in the now-excluded play, to Holy Trinity’s relationship with the Fringe, to Belke, and to the Fringe’s reputation is huge.

Holy Trinity is to be commended for having put rehabilitation and redemption into practice in this case. It is understandable that they perceive that the trust built up between the venue and the Fringe is severely undermined. So is our trust in the Fringe.

I have a suggestion for Holy Trinity. Please continue to offer the play, now unconnected to the Fringe, preferably in the time slots already set aside for it, and plan to sell tickets at the door. S.M. Anderson, Edmonton