How to be a critic
How to be a critic
colleen_lee
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/05
#1How to be a critic
Posted: 2/12/09 at 9:00pmhttp://www.minnesotaplaylist.com/magazine/article/2009/02/11/how-be-critic
"You just can't win. Ever. Look at the bright side, at least you are not stuck in First Wives Club: The Musical. That would really suck. "
--Sueleen Gay
#2re: How to be a critic
Posted: 2/12/09 at 9:16pm
Charles Isherwood must have seen this article a long time ago: he followed the "Summarize the Story" point to a tee in his review of The Visit.
And Ben Brantley follows #3 somewhat, but other than that, he doesn't seem to know what he's doing.
And what about the Greatest Rule of All: BE SNARKY!!!
"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum
Updated On: 2/12/09 at 09:16 PM
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum
snarkywannabedreamer
Leading Actor Joined: 2/12/09
#2re: How to be a critic
Posted: 2/13/09 at 7:36am
And the most important rule... you should never have actually created anything yourself!
you know EVERY critic started with a dream to do the very thing he/she bitterly snarks about. They probably just really, really sucked at it.
exedore
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/20/05
#3re: How to be a critic
Posted: 2/13/09 at 7:44am
"you know EVERY critic started with a dream to do the very thing he/she bitterly snarks about. They probably just really, really sucked at it. "
Maybe in New York. Here in civilised territories we actually do see the critics popping off to direct or write a play - in fact, Nicholas de Jongh's play "Plague over England" is about to go into the West End.
And if you can't deal with people telling you when you suck, get the hell out of this business.
etoile
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/03
#4re: How to be a critic
Posted: 2/13/09 at 7:44am
No, snarky, I don't know that. How exactly is it that you do?
As hard as it is for some people to believe, not everyone shares the same dreams. And some would argue that writing a review is actually creating something. As with any art form, not everyone will be pleased or agree with the artwork.
Rest in peace, Iflitifloat.
snarkywannabedreamer
Leading Actor Joined: 2/12/09
#5re: How to be a critic
Posted: 2/13/09 at 9:30am
writing a review is not an art form. it is simply a commentary on somebody else's art. That is all it is. just because a small few can be clever about it doesn't make it art. And I think criticism has a place, and I personally can take criticism. However, with the exception of a few really skillful and thoughtful critics, i believe that much of the criticism out there is lazy and not very thoughtful.
and yes, I know everyone doesn't share the same dreams. however, you're out of your tree if you think a kid wakes up and dreams of being a critic. what a lame dream that would be. at some point that kid who really really cared about theater, or film, or music, or whatever realized he/she couldn't make a living at it and found this new path of talking about the thing they loved.
Updated On: 2/13/09 at 09:30 AM
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