Show Reviews: Would you rather...

Why not bump your old thread?

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1099512#4899274

GreenFinch27 said: "I'm writing a thesis that involves these chat boards. I was wondering if I could get some insight on how seriously you take reviews and comments about shows on the boards? Would you be more willing to trust a review on here than a professional journalistic review? Any thoughts are appreciated!
Thanks!



"Over a period of time, I find whose "tastes" seem to resemble mine. For example, I never was an Isherwood guy -- nothing against Charles, but he seemed to like shows that I didn't. I'm much more a Brantley guy. If Ben recommends something, experience tells me that I'm very likely to like it a lot.

Same thing is true on these Boards. Over the last few years, I've identified a couple of posters whose tastes seem to match mine. And more than a few with whom I don't share the same views on what to see.

All of this is VERY important to me -- I don't live in NYC, and I cant see everything. I come into the city 3 or 4 times a year and see 2 or 3 shows. I like to sit in good seats -- so I'm spending a fair amount of money on that too. But mostly, it's time -- I want to see "the best" each year.

And since we all know there is no such thing as "best" -- I need to identify which ones I'll think are "best" -- or "best for me." That's what the reviewers do for me.

Are there some "misses"? You betcha. But 90% of the time I see things that I really enjoy, both as musicals and plays, and at the end of a season there are just a handful that I regret not having seen.

I wish could see them all. (And to see a couple of them more than once.) But that's not what my life let's me do. So I wait and see what my "go to guys" say, and buy my tickets then.

There are several posters here who have prompted me to rethink my opinion of shows I found lacking in the past. ERICMONTREAL, to take but one example, has many times said, gently, "I think you should listen to that score again. It's better than you remember." In each case he has been right.

I pay almost no attention to commercial reviewers: my experience with reviews of my own work suggests they are ill-informed and rushed, and often end up reviewing what isn't there. I also think they see so much product that their views are unnecessarily jaded, even when they aren't busy building their own names in the culture. To take but one example, some make a career of liking shows nobody else likes, just so they'll get their names in quote ads.

I am far more likely to take advice from an individual whose taste I have come to trust.

"Would you be more willing to trust a review on here than a professional journalistic review?"



Any day of the week. The so-called critics of today are truly a pathetic lot. The posters on this board run rings around them.

I will add that we owe a great deal of gratitude to those here who generously give of their time and talents to post well-written, insightful critiques of shows, to answer people's multiple questions, and to share their theatrical memories. We are all in their debt.

I usually use several postings on here to monitor a show's development, casting, and things like that. Unless a show is a complete pan from all commercial theater critics, I don't let their opinions influence me on seeing a show, especially if there is a performer I want to see.. I can't keep track of all the times I've read reviews by certain critics and posters on this board that were negative and I loved the show. The same thing in reverse. The most recent example of this was She Loves Me. A show I couldn't wait to end was adored by most posters and critics. So, after while, you can find that balance that works for you.

I generally try to see most of the musicals on and off- Broadway, unless i specifically think i wouldn't enjoy the subject matter (e.g. Am. Psycho). I also see a handful of plays that seem like they would interest me based on the subject matter or playwright. I purposely don't read any reviews or threads about them until after i have had a chance to see them, which is only a few weekends a year. So i usually end up reading and joining in on the threads many weeks or even months after they have opened, just to discuss with other passionate audience members. I don't read professional reviews at all.

On the other hand, if i decide to skip something because it doesn't seem like it might interest me, i will often browse the threads here to see if there is something i have ignored that i might enjoy. I recently ended up seeing Significant Other that way - it wasn't on my radar until i read some raves about it here, so i ended up seeing it in my last available slot on a recent trip that i otherwise would have used for a second Sunset viewing.