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What does it take to be a theatre critic?

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#1

What does it take to be a theatre critic?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 9:09pm

I was skimming Ben Brantley's bio on the NYTimes website, and was surprised to find that he only has a BA in English. I thought one needed a Ph.D to be one of the Times' head writers.

What kind of schooling does one need to be a theatre critic?
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

Updated On: 3/30/05 at 09:09 PM

#2

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 9:25pm

What do you do, with a B.A. in English
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#4

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 9:37pm

Ok, I don't want this to come off as saying anything negative about Ben Brantly inparticular but really, why has the broadway, off-broadway and theater community in general become victim to the thoughts of a core of people. What ever happened to the idea that people can make up their own minds. Whew! Sorry, didn't mean to blow up like that...touchy subject. But as for Ben Brantly, he can review a show from a community theater through Broadway with the same respect. It is rare.
#5

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 9:45pm

I'd be surprised if any of the critics for the major dailies had much more than a BA. Most of them just sort of fell into the job by accident anyway (both prior Times head critics -- Vincent Canby and Frank Rich -- were film critics before they were theatre critics, and the weren't trained as film critics either). In the old days, critics were just regular beat reporters who got assigned for one reason or another to cover theatre (some didn't even have a BA or journalism degree). While there are some exceptions (Brustein; Kerr; George Jean Nathan), most theatre critics have very little specific training or background in theatre before they get the job.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#7

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:00pm

...and a good deal of cynicism helps as well. If you want to be a good one, a backround in theatre would help.
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being." --Phylicia Rashad
#8

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:24pm

I throughly agree with the last 2 posts. Some like Simon cannot create so they must destroy & tear apart
Poster Emeritus
#9

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:25pm

...bitterness at not being able to be:

an actor
a producer
a director
etc....

themselves.
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#10

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:27pm

I hate when people say that theatre critics are just failed actors/producers/directors who are bitter. A load of BS.

Some might be bitter, but to say that all critics are just failed whatevers is stupid and ignorant.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

Updated On: 3/30/05 at 10:27 PM

#11

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:27pm

What do you need to be a critic?
A sharp tongue, a lifetime of bitterness, no sense of humor...Shall I go on?
http://community.livejournal.com/ltd_brands_suck/
#12

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:30pm

That kind of surprises me too, BlueWizard.

I'm thinking about double major, so I'll end up with a BA in Theatre and History.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#13

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:33pm

Stick to Priest: I hate when theater critics are bitter and slam shows with their venom (aka Reidel) before even seeing show. That's ignorance!

I hate when a reviewer quotes "sources" when telling tales, then refuses to back up their stories.
That's Stupidity!
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#14

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:37pm

Riedel is a Gossip Columnist. I don't consider him a critic.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#15

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:39pm

Not all but I simply cannot see how someone who has never written a note of music, a word of lyrics or a play can sit in judgment of those who have. Many good songwriters & lyricists & playwrights careers have been ruined by spiteful & plain stupid critics

The work of months or years can be dashed in an instant by a few individuals. I blame the theater going public as well for listening to them & not making up their own mind.

How do you explain a show that one critic praises to the sun & another says it is a piece of crap. It is the same show. All it is is one persons opinion who , in many instances, have no clue what they are talking about

A departed friend of mine told me years ago he went to an opening. A critic in front of him was overheard saying "I don't like this actor & I am going to close this show down". Do not tell me there are not critics with built in prejudices. The critics hate Wildhorn & will never ever give him a good review. They are prejudiced against anything he composes. This is fair & balanced criticism right ?
Poster Emeritus
#16

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:42pm

Well said, Mr Roxy!

And Sticktopriest, you are absolutely right...Reidel isn't a critic..he's a columnist. But I still say Brantley and the rest are bitter!
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#17

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:42pm

Not all but I simply cannot see how someone who has never written a note of music, a word of lyrics or a play can sit in judgment of those who have.

Isn't that what the theatregoing public does, though?
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
#18

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:46pm

I'm not saying they don't have prejudices and pre-concieved notions. Lord knows they've been hard enough on Sondheim his whole career simply because they at times didn't "get" his work.

But to say they are just failed actors, directors and producers is stupid.

I'm not saying that you should listen to them. I disagree with critics all the time. But they do, I think, deserve more respect than they get. Of course, there are some critics who are just complete morons and/or extremely bitter who are exceptions and don't necessarily deserve respect.

And, I'll close by saying: bring back Frank Rich. re: Education in theatre criticism?
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

Updated On: 3/30/05 at 10:46 PM

#19

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:46pm

They are paying customers who have the right. If enough say it is good, word of mouth is good & it succeeds. If not, it fails as word of mouth will ultimately kill it. Either way, the theater going public (thousands of them) determines a works fate & not a small handful. I think any creative person would love to have his or her work decided by the public & they would happily live with whatever decision the theatergoing public makes

I think if a majority of 100,000 say it is good it makes more sense than 3 or 4 or even 1 (Brantly) saying it stinks
Poster Emeritus

Updated On: 3/30/05 at 10:46 PM

#20

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:48pm

But the theatre-going public has it's own pre-concieved notions and prejudices, too.

I mean 1776 completely bombed in London.
Imagine that.
re: Education in theatre criticism?
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#21

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:49pm

John Simon has a doctorate in comparative literature from Harvard. Whether you appreciate his attitude or not, he is quite learned. To be fair, he seems to have mellowed in recent years.
#22

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:51pm

Has John SImon ever composed 1 note of music ? If not, how can he know how hard it is to compose ?
Poster Emeritus
#23

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:52pm

Tell 'em how it is, Priest. Afterall, you're the *only* critic I'd listen to... :)
"I'm not a catcher! I'm a piano player!" -- Schroeder from "Peanuts" ----- http://www.facebook.com/p/Brandon_Bartlett/500719306
#24

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:53pm

Tradition has given us theatre critics with no real knowledge of theatre or theatre history the ability to judge and sometimes close shows because they don't understand.

To be fair, if you attend every show on broadway, off Broadway and off off Broadway you will see a few amazing shows, a lot of
mediocre shows and a lot of truly dreadful shows. With the latter comes the cynicism - the feeling that this has be done before and done better.

Frank Rich at least grew up seeing show as and had a sense of theatre history that informed his reviews. I was just reading his memoir GHOST LIGHT. His obsession with cast albums and going to the theatre started when he was about five.

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

#25

re: Education in theatre criticism?

Posted: 3/30/05 at 10:54pm

If anyone wants a Master Class in the art of theatre criticism, pick up 'Hot Seat' which is a collection of theatre reviews Rich wrote for the Times.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

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