Secret Squirrel Transmogrified

*groan*

I'm sure it's not really our very own SS transmogrified, but you can't help wondering if these people aren't following his lead...

"We, the Statue Poopers, do solemnly swear to berate sub-standard forms of entertainment and burst bubbles of self-denial wherever me may find them. AND BY GOD WE WILL SEEK OUT AND DESTROY THEM"

i wonder if they have any understanding of the concept of irony?

:-)





Cheers
Grant

I can't help but think that these are the kids who never got cast in the school plays and then looked at all the cool kids having all that fun and just steadily got more and more bitter. Poor little things, sitting there thinking "I never really wanted to be in it anyway" and "I bet it's stupid and boring", and crying into their poor little pillows in the dead of the night.

Well those who can, do. Those who can't, critisise.

>I can't help but think that these are the kids who never got cast in the school >plays and then looked at all the cool kids having all that fun

This is a typical reaction. Why are we all so sensitive to criticism?

While there is a lot of excellent community theatre, there is much that could be considered less than par (of course, none of the shows I've been involved with fall in this category). Yet no-one seems able to give an honest opinion.

The fact that I'm doing it for free does not give me a right to do it badly.

True, I do not like to be brow-beaten with every little thing I did wrong or harangued about what went wrong with a show and would much rather hear positives than negatives, but a few well chosen words of constructive criticism could be taken and would be used to improve my next performance. If it must come anonymously then so be it: although anonymous critics must earn my respect.

Is it that we worry too much about upsetting our friends/fellows/anyone that encourages people such as Secret Squirrel and Statue Poopers to set up shop? Whatever the reason, I am sure that people such as these are much needed in community theatre.

Mark Kont wrote:
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The fact that I'm doing it for free does not give me a right to do it badly......... but a few well chosen words of constructive criticism could be taken and would be used to improve my next performance. If it must come anonymously then so be it.....

I couldn't agree with you more Mark. But take a look at these guys website and tell me if you think constructive critism is what they have in mind.

I still beleive that the only thing wrong with SS's comment were that, being anonymous, they seemed to lack the courage of their convictions and didn't give people a proper right of reply. But the "Statue Poopers" (will someone tell me if that's a spelling mistake please..) just seem to be mean. If I'm wrong (it happens but rarely), and their motives are pure and their critisism neither mean spirited, nor cowardly, I'll stand corrected.

Leah Maher wrote:
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... Take a look at these guys website and tell me if you think constructive critism is what they have in mind.

After another look I can see what you mean. Perhaps their comments are somewhat short of constructive.

Nonetheless, I think that the whole point of their website is to poke a bit of fun. They are going over the top; but do we take ourselves so seriously that we can't stand a bit of heat? Because we're unpaid are we some sort of sacred cow - untouchable in any negative way? After all, we are charging real money to come and see us. Aren't the paying punters entitled to whatever opinion they want?

If their opinions have no basis you can be sure that the "Poopers" will be pooped on (don't ask me the correct spelling!) and their "critiques" dismissed as the ramblings of 'kids who never got cast in the school play.... crying into their pillows in the dead of night'. I don't know how long their website has been up but I notice there is only one review (undated). Maybe it was the only one because THEY couldn't stand the heat.

Leah Maher also wrote:
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.... The only thing wrong with SS's comment were that, being anonymous, they...... didn't give people a proper right of reply.

An anonymous critic who is consistent in ALL reviews and makes pertinent, constructive comments (good and bad) will earn respect, if nothing more than grudging respect.

If you disagree with everything they say you are entitled to dismiss it as bunk.

If, however, we think there is an element of truth in even a small portion of what is said about anyone else, we should look hard at what is said about us. Arguing the point after the performance serves no purpose. It is too late to prove anything. The only right way to reply is to either ignore it or learn whatever, if anything, can be learnt from the comment and try to improve in our next role.

Liven up Leah!

Its difficult to understand your objection to this particular web site. I thought it was actually quite humorous. Maybe you shouldn't take yourself too seriously. You can be accused of many things. Unfortunately having a sense of humour isn't one of them.

I guess this sort of mean-spiritedness and judgementalism annoys me. Not wanting to get too philisophical, I think a good deal of what is wrong with the world has to do with the need humans seem to have to cut others down to feel good about themselves.

So what if someone puts on a crap play? I agree that meaningful dialouge about it's crapness should be allowed to be entered into, but not to the point where the object seems to be just making people feel bad.

The reason I do this is for the feeling of acheivment, of a job well done. The high and the clapping and the hugs. What is to be gained by raining on this parade, even if your critismism is entirely valid and the show was utter shite. Leave me and my delusions alone. By all means express your opinion, but accept that my shite play made me feel like a million bucks, and don't try to deliberately hurt me.

Up with compassion and putting peoples feelings above being right!!! I am still learning to do tis but I think it's an extrodinarily valuable lesson.

Good for your Leah I am with you
Cheers
jackie

Leah Maher passionately averred:
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I couldn't agree with you more Mark. But take a look at these guys website and tell me if you think constructive critism is what they have in mind.

I did take a look at their shabby ramshackle effort (Malks, this site pisses on theirs! Kudos, buddy!!) and have come to an "interesting" conclusion...

What if they're just doing for a laugh?? Maybe I'm diseased with some Bolivian strain of meat-sickness, but I actually had a couple of guilty cackles on the Pigeon site. More of it, I say!! Maybe some folks won't enjoy their opinions, but so be it- it's a welcome retreat from the oh-so-serious approach that is proferred the majority of the time.

But the "Statue Poopers" (will someone tell me if that's a spelling mistake please..) just seem to be mean. If I'm wrong (it happens but rarely), and their motives are pure and their critisism neither mean spirited, nor cowardly, I'll stand corrected.

Stay seated, Leah. :-)

Yep, they're probably mean-spirited, certainly vindictive and most assuredly spiteful- but I found them funny.. and THAT'S what counts in my book!

El

I heartily agree Leah.

Remember though, if no-one has the internal fortitude to tell us a play/performance was crap what reason do we have to do it better next time?