Ethics and the theatre reviewer

[allamarane]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 8:31pm

I recently read a review that got me thinking, and I'd really like to hear some other opinions.

What do you think the ethical obligations are when reviewers are also working artists? I mean, sure, you're not allowed to review your own work. But outside of that, is there any obligation on the part of the media to disclose that the show being reviewed has an actor or production team member who is their usual critic?

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 10:03pm

When in doubt, disclose.

Sounds like a good rule for all journalism.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 10:07pm

^ Exactly. Disclosure, in all forms of journalism, is the standard accepted practice.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 10:54pm

I can't think of an instance where a professional critic would be directly involved with the production.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 11:03pm

John Lahr co-wrote ELAINE STRITCH AT LIBERTY. (He didn't review it, of course)

[allamarane]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 1:51am

See, that's what's bothering me. The substitute reviewer made no mention of the fact that the usual reviewer (whose name was still attached to the column) was also the director of the show. If the guest reviewer wants to write a glowing rave, go for it - but let the readership know the connection the show has to the media source.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 1:55am

Do you have a link to the article?

[allamarane]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 2:11am

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/seattle/se487.html

[mallardo]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 2:24am

This situation occurred in London a couple of seasons back when one of the Newspaper critics wrote a play about John Gielgud that was performed in the West End. The other critics all noted that fact - it was common knowledge in any case - and reviewed it in the usual way - although no doubt they cut their colleague some slack.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 9:34am

Walter Kerr, astute critic for the New York Herald Tribune, wrote the book and lyrics, with his wife author Jean Kerr, for the 1958 musical GOLDILOCKS which starred Elaine Stritch. Kerr also directed. His own paper did not review the production which eliminated conflict of interest. Famous critic of the Times, Brooks Atkinson, called the show "A bountiful, handsome musical comedy with an uninteresting book". It appears, according to Steven Suskin's Critical Quotebook of the Golden Era of the Musical--OPENING NIGHT ON BROADWAY--that Walter Kerr was not given any slack by his fellow critics, with such quotes as "It is so lacking in a sense of direction that it never develops a personality of it's own." Well, I loved it and saw it a second time. The OBCR is great!