Critics are out there for a reason. We've heard lots of nasty quotes about them collectively and individually. Now I'm generally not talking about those in the New York, Chicago, LA, Seattle (and other really big Mecca theatre cities) but those in middle sized to smaller cities and regions. Critics generally are not actors, directors, dramaturgs or production people, nor do they have degrees in the dramatic arts. There are readers who see what a critic says about a show and then purposely do the EXACTLY OPPOSITE, see the production and enjoy it! I wish more would know that about their readership - but I suspect they would dismiss those disagreeing as uncultured. Some critics take their title to the extreme of one pole: they don't review - they just criticize! A Critique is NOT a Review! I've also heard it said that some live for the power trip: to be feared, people hanging on their every word and in fear treating them like royalty. They live down to their reputation to spew out negative columns (occasionally sprinkling a measly pinch of sugar into their diatribe and expect that to mean balance. Rex Reed found what it was like to go from critic to actor... and for a lot of reasons the movie bombed - even his performance! Critics need to factor in that there will be technical mishaps in an opening show, line drops, and forget that unless it is a sellout (a small crowd due to day of the week or other events) the timing to carry what they see will not be the same. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fortunately, critics are found not to be read by many - except theatre people. Often, critics will live down to their established reputations. Often critics may use a general descriptive word for some aspect that they don't like and then not define it... so how is that feedback to improve the art they are guarding? I'm not saying they should ignore poor work or mediocre performances - but they should do their homework more thoroughly. There are some who truly love the art and purposely will not only read the program fully, but will actually interview the director and even production people ahead of time! The result might be more appreciation for the work and light shed into areas that much the audience sees that the critic as an individual might miss. Of course there are those critics who will continue writing as they do then complain when talented people don't want to come to their areas to work. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ So, if you get a bad review - look at the source, and her/his other reviews.... find the common denominators: what types of people/characters they like and what they have in common, as well as the sponsoring publisher - their private interests and how they are reviewed. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Arts are always to be refined. If thee criticism is valid and you can do something about it (usually you can't when it's problems with the script or the venue) learn from it and make the changes! A good reason to have a critic in at a preview first and then make her/him a reviewer!
