Posted by Jim Seay
on 7/11/2009, 11:48 am, in reply to "My two cents"
I pretty much agree with what you have said, and I am a published drama critic, having written theatre reviews for five different print journals and one on-line A&E publication over the years. I have reviewed hundreds of community, educational and professional productions in my career.
I certainly believe that the play selection committee of any theatre group must be held responsible for the plays they select. In my own reviews, I have often taken those committees to the woodshead for selecting poor or inappropriate scripts. My own feeling is that a reviewer must be totally fair in his/her assessment of any production, good or bad, and give reasons for that assesment. I also feel that casts, crews, directors and others directly involved with the production should b###h, carp, or applaude in the Green Room and not in the press, either print or electronic.
A review, as stated so often, is only one person's oppinion, but the public needs to be assured that the person has the knowledge and qualifications to give that opinion to the reading public.
I also totally agree that a rehash of the plot is certainly NOT a review, and shows that the "reviewer" is not that familiar with the demands of their trade.
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