How much weight do you give to critics/reviews

Do you blow them off or does it depend on who is writing?

Who is your favorite critic?

Who is your least favorite?

Opening Night Reviews: When are they released?

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Yes, Em.

Folks say Amanda is still shouting and not projecting and since she is the center of this, it's of concern.

On the bright side, folks seem to think Mister Wilson is really great---he can only do so much.

*bites nails* The show CAN'T close before I get there.

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I can't wait to read YOUR review. :o)

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You've got to give Simon props for being a BRILLIANT writer, though.

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My decision to see a show is never based on what a critic writes. After all, it's one opinion. Just as my opinion of a show is based on more than just the stage show itself (i.e., who's in the cast, have I enjoyed this director's work before, etc,)....so is the critic's. So, you have to take their reviews with a grain of salt.

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The show won't close because of the reviews, or Ms. Peet's performance. The show will close because nobody wants to see it, theres NO publicity for it, and there's no draw for the tourist crowd. A tourist from....Korea....won't know from Amanda Peet or Patrick Wilson.

Pretty much that and the fact that the play suffers the same way as Odd COuple did. It's just old.

None at all. As so many of these reviewers (note I do not use the term "critics") know very little about theater or jounalism. Many of them desplay little sensitivity to art or music (many tin-ear types). I generally go by my own opinions (as wrong as they may be). It will make little difference to the world in general if I am wrong.

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which broadway legend said that? sounds like a good quote...

If it's a production I don't know anything about and it gets a good review I may be interested in seeing it but if a critic pans a show I was already interested in I'll still go see it. Usually if I already don't (or think I won't) like something the critic won't like it either.

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Do you blow them off or does it depend on who is writing?

I normally only read reviews from NYTimes and this board. If it is a rave from Ben Brantly, I probably will watch it in my next NYC trip. If it is a mixed review, I will read some other's opinion from this board and make decision. (Sometimes I don't care at all if there is my favorite star in the show) If it is a pan, I will avoid the show like avoiding the plaque.

Who is your favorite critic?
Frank Rich

Who is your least favorite?
The guy from broadway.com. I forget his name.

I think the best critic working today is John Lahr (The New Yorker), although he can be a bit spoiler-heavy at times.

The worst are Clive Barnes (a hack who hasn't stayed awake throughout a show in years and mostly writes his reviews based on press kits), Linda Winer (her style is a bit too simplistic for my tastes), and the aforementioned Jacques Le Sourd.

Like him or not, John Simon is always interesting. That's what makes him one of the few "must read" theatre columnists out there. The same thing can be said about Riedel.

I also think Brantley is a much better critic than most give him credit for. I think a lot of the hostility towards him is unwarranted. Most people are probably just jealous of his position.

As far as reviews go, they mean nothing to me. A pan isn't going to stop me from seeing a show I want to see, just like a glowing review probably won't get me to a show I have no interest in. I always read reviews, though, because I find them interesting.

I tend to ignore critics/reviews. If i like/don't like a show nobody elses opinion will change mine.

EVERYONE ONE OF US is a critic. Message boards and newspapers' critcs are all equal in position, they all give an opinion. It's not something we necessarily have to agree with.

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Updated On: 2/16/06 at 08:17 PM