writing a review

Why don't you read some reviews as examples? Everybody does it a little bit differently, and what you can say as far as contextualizing the show depends a lot on which show you're seeing. I think the strongest reviews I've ever written (both here and elsewhere) are ones that don't just evaluate the piece as an entity on its own, but talk about its place in the larger scope of the current (and past, to a degree) theater scene.

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Updated On: 4/1/07 at 12:38 PM

Here's what I do.

I look at each element of the creative and production and score them.

For a musical the book can get up to 20 points, the score can get 20 as well. (For non-musical the script gets up to 40 points) Then the concept and execution, meaning the idea and how well it achieves it goals, are evaluated to a maximum of 10 points. So, for the creative the maximum is 50 points.

Then I took at the performances by the leads, the supporting cast, ensemble and orchestra (20 points); the direction and staging (10 points); the design elements: lighting, costumes, set, sound (10 points) and the ultimate entertainment value (10 points.) The production maximum is 10 points.

If a newspaper requires a 5-star rating it is based on the following:
90+ points * * * * *
80-89 pts * * * *
70-79 pts * * *
60-69 pts * *
50-59 pts *
1/2 stars are given for being near the top of each segment: like 66 out of 100 gets * * 1/2. Anything less than 50 receives no stars

I have been using this, with some refinements for the past 20 years and it seems to work well. A poorly written show with strong production values like PHANTOM OF THE OPERA gets 66 points which translates to = * * 1/2 while a well written and performed show like RAGTIME would get * * * * 1/2. (VERY few ever get 5 stars!)

I usually have a general idea where a show should land before I do my score sheet and most of the time that estimate turns out to be correct.

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You could go for the specifics - performances, costumes etc. Or the big picture - the effect the shows have on American Theater. You can write on review where you compare them and explain movie based v original shows.

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ah. Should I compare Legally Blonde to the movie? Or do you think thats a bad idea?

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I think not comparing it to the movie is a bad idea. It has to go in there somewhere.

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"make sure to incorporate a plot summary..

I disagree. A full plot summary takes up too much space and will not influence a decision to see a show. A review (as opposied to a piece of theatre cricism) should focus on what was done well and what could have been done better and leave the reader knowing whether they should go see the production or not.

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-Trueness to the story?
-What was unique to the production? Did this work?
-How was the acting/singing?
-How did the plot flow?
-What about choreography?
-How were the costumes?
-If there was a score, how did it add to the play?
-How did the set look? Was it functional, great, or distracting?
-What visual symbolism did you see?
-What character choices were made by the actors, and what did you think about these choices?
-Did you agree with the direction?

Just analyze the show, and don't be afraid to give opinions, but support them with examples.

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For something like Legally Blonde, DEFINITELY compare it to the movie. For something like Curtains, with a score by Kander and Ebb, by all means compare it to their other shows. It shows that you know what you're talking about.

Be sure to give background information - mention how Curtains played Los Angeles last year, mention how David Hyde Pierce is best known for Frasier; talk about how Laura Bell Bundy in Legally Blonde has a history of playing powerful women (Glinda in Wicked, Amber in Hairspray).

A review is what you thought of the show. Was the choreography great or did it suck? Did you like the sets or were they inappropriate for the piece? Did the lighting prohibit you from seeing stuff? What did you like about the show? What didn't you like about it?

Try very hard to NOT use the word "I." "I didn't like it" is redundant as we could learn from your review that you didn't like it. The perfect way to say that would be "Curtains/Legally Blonde just wasn't as thrilling a show as it could have been."