#151
Posted: 11/16/09 at 5:06pm
Why is criticizing a show for its anthems or sentimentality "an easy out?" To me, those are legitimate grounds for not liking a show, and valid reasons for criticism.
After 8
What I mean here is that it is not specific. It's all generalities. A specific criticism might be that two BIG anthems (New Music and Wheels of a Dream) are placed back-to-back. Both start small and build to huge endings. It's too much of a muchness.
It could be fixed easily by switching Wheels of a Dream with The Emma Goldman/Gliding sequence. Switch those tracks when you play the CD and You'll see what I mean: New Music starts small ends big, Goldman/Gliding starts big and ends small, Wheels of a dream starts small and ends big....THAT is programming.
I just give this as an example of specific criticism rather than speaking generally and saying "Oh it's just one big power ballad after another." No. It's just there are spots where too much of the same thing is lumped together.
The "sentimentality" card is often played when critics mean too much treacle. I don't find RAGTIME suffers from that. (SOUND OF MUSIC, now THERE is a show with too much treacle...and look how well it has done!) There is nothing wrong with honest sentiment. It's just that some shows lay it on with a trowel...like too much frosting on a cake. But that can be easily fixed by cutting it with serious drama and comedy so that the sentiment becomes one component of the mix.
See what I mean?
After 8
What I mean here is that it is not specific. It's all generalities. A specific criticism might be that two BIG anthems (New Music and Wheels of a Dream) are placed back-to-back. Both start small and build to huge endings. It's too much of a muchness.
It could be fixed easily by switching Wheels of a Dream with The Emma Goldman/Gliding sequence. Switch those tracks when you play the CD and You'll see what I mean: New Music starts small ends big, Goldman/Gliding starts big and ends small, Wheels of a dream starts small and ends big....THAT is programming.
I just give this as an example of specific criticism rather than speaking generally and saying "Oh it's just one big power ballad after another." No. It's just there are spots where too much of the same thing is lumped together.
The "sentimentality" card is often played when critics mean too much treacle. I don't find RAGTIME suffers from that. (SOUND OF MUSIC, now THERE is a show with too much treacle...and look how well it has done!) There is nothing wrong with honest sentiment. It's just that some shows lay it on with a trowel...like too much frosting on a cake. But that can be easily fixed by cutting it with serious drama and comedy so that the sentiment becomes one component of the mix.
See what I mean?
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
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