Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#1Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:10am
81 years of age, after a battle with liver cancer.
He was still reviewing dance (http://www.nypost.com/seven/10312008/entertainment/theater/flames_hot__fling_not_136087.htm) and theater as of a few weeks ago. His last published theater piece was a 4-star review of SPEED-THE-PLOW (http://www.nypost.com/seven/10242008/entertainment/theater/speed_your_way_to_revival_of_mamets_plow_134979.htm).
It's a very sad day for the arts world and arts journalism.
Updated On: 11/19/08 at 10:10 AM
Ed_Mottershead
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
#2re: Word has it that Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:12amRecent reviews in the Post have said that "Clive Barnes is on leave."
#3re: Word has it that Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:17am
Apparently he died this morning from liver cancer.
http://www.artsjournal.com/aboutlastnight/2008/11/tt_clive_barnes_rip.html
this is so sad.
#4re: Word has it that Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:42amThis is very sad news
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#5re: Word has it that Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:43am
Wow. This is very sad and very shocking news. My thoughts are with his family.
Review threads on here will never be the same.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#6Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:53am
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/123488.html
Updated On: 11/19/08 at 10:53 AM
jagfkb
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/29/07
#7Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:17amWow, did now expect that, whatsoever. You think the lights will dim?
#8Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:17am
This is so sad. He and his contributions to the theatre will be remembered.
Thought and prayers for him and his family.
#9Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:22am
Wow. How sad.
I always looked forward to his reviews: even when he was completely off the course, he was a fun and interesting read.
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum
NYC_or_Bust
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/8/05
#10Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:26am
My thoughts too are with his family.
I can seriously say, when I would travel to NYC, I always liked reading his positive quotes on a lot of the Theatre advertising.
He will be missed.
#11Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:43amWhat a sad loss. I didn't always agree with his reviews, but you could tell he loved the theater. I think dimming the lights would be appropriate.
#12Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:50amExactly my thoughts, Amalia.
StageFan2
Broadway Star Joined: 4/8/07
#13Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:00pmYou've said it all Amalia. RIP Mr. Barnes. Sympathies to his family, friends and collegues.
#14Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:04pm
Sad? SAD? Are you kidding me? He nearly killed the theatre while he was at the Times! I can hardly say I am saddened by his loss, though my thoughts are with his family and friends.
All I can say to the Post is DO NOT make Michael Riedel critic!
#15Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:11pmPlaybill.com has apparently deleted the story.
#16Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:18pm
Why? It seems pretty legit. Liver cancer? Was he a drinker?
BWW should add to their obituary that aside from his affiable smile (sp?) and grey hair, both true, he was also very fond of falling sleep at the theatre in recent years.
He WAS the only critic that outright loved Merrily We Roll Along. Let's give him credit for that.
I wonder what Hal Prince is thinking about all this. He and Barnes did not have the friendliest relationship. Barnes panned the first two Sondheim-Prince shows, loved Night Music, but simply loathed Pacific Overtures, a show Prince loved dearly and invested his own money in. He wrote Barnes a letter following the opening saying he had killed the show and how disapointed he was in his opinion. Barnes proceded to love On the Twentieth Century and Sweeney Todd, Prince's next two shows. Both were mighty entertaining, but I wonder if he felt badly about Pacific Overtures?
After he gave Light in the Piazza and Grey Gardens negative reviews in recent years, but proceeded to praise Spamalot, Young Frankentstein, Mamma Mia!, among other commercial, campy shows, I lost much respect for him. And he was also no great favorite of ANYONE'S in the 1960s. Until Hair came along, I don't think he gave any musical a possitive review simply because it did not have a rock score, which he felt all musicals should have had by that point. How wrong he was!
#17Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:23pm
It's back up now, and there's also a NYT article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/arts/dance/20barnes.html?_r=1&hp
#18Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:28pmJust read the Playbill.com article. I have gained a little more respect for him after learning what he said about John Simon. When will that old crank die? I suppose the day Arthur Laurents does?
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#19Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:34pm
He was also the sole critic who enjoyed CARRIE.
Updated On: 11/19/08 at 12:34 PM
#20Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:35pmClive Barnes was...is a brilliant man. He will be remembered forever.
#21Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:36pmAh ha ha! Interesting Yankee.
#22Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:42pm
The New York Post is crap, his section was the only good thing about that newspaper, he will be missed. I agreed with him more than with any other critic.
Im happy for whoever takes over his job. A great thrill to take over such a legendary critic.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#23Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:43pm
From the Post's obit:
"Even at 81, he was never afraid of the new, championing such recent plays as "A Catered Affair" and the rock musical "Spring Awakening," among many others.
But his undiminished enthusiasm did not prevent him from unleashing a caustic critique, when called for. Only a month ago, he cast a dim eye on "To Be or Not To Be": "Not. Definitely not," he wrote."
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11192008/news/regionalnews/longtime_post_art_critic_dies_at_81_139521.htm
#24Legendary arts critic Clive Barnes has died
Posted: 11/19/08 at 12:54pm
Even though I disagreed with him many, many times over the years, this is very sad news.
I fondly remember a great discussion we had at the Edinburgh Airport (he was just leaving the festival, I was just arriving) when I walked up to him and introduced myself. We sat down in the coffee shop and chatted about the Festival for nearly half an hour until his flight was called. Later, I remember thinking that his suggestions on what to see and what to avoid were a lot more reliable than his NY reviews!
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