News and reviews (?)
Sun, 12 May 2002, 11:45 pmcrgwllms4 posts in thread
News and reviews (?)
Sun, 12 May 2002, 11:45 pmHi Grant
You said you'd like to hear a review of our show. We did seven shows in Geelong, to packed houses - this was written in the Geelong Advertiser, with a very nice cast photo:
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Review.
"A nostalgic trip back to childhood days". - Rochelle Smith
The audience at GPAC's Blakiston Theatre on Tuesday night was transported back to their childhoods by the Perth Theatre Company's production of Tom Hungerford's Stories From Suburban Road.
This absolutely delightful play, adapted by Alan Becher from Hungerford's autobiographical stories, chronicles the adventures of young Tom growing up in South Perth during the 1920s and '30s.
Becher also directs. Under his guidance and vision the cast of six actors creates Tom's world through ingenious mime, expression, music and storytelling.
Starring three men and three women - Michelle Doake, Kim de Lury, Kate Mulvany, Rohan Nichol, Toni Pearen and Craig Williams (also a member of the original 1990 cast) - Stories From Suburban Road transcends the boundaries of age and gender. Each of the actors has a turn with the role of Tom.
The others then take varying roles as Mum, Dad, brothers, sisters, mates, the town drunk, and many more idiosyncratic characters.
Warm, funny and, at times, sad, Stories From Suburban Road is full of real characters that will no doubt create a sense of deja vu for everyone who remembers what it was like to be a kid.
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Hope that gives a bit of an idea of the show. I haven't really seen any other writeups, as we haven't stayed long enough in one venue 'til now.
But, as nice as it all sounds - I don't really consider it a good review!
Although it says all the right things, and is very positive, it really isn't anything that can't be simply taken directly from our press release or the programme. In fact, I don't believe the reporter, who took notes at the photo session, had actually seen the show at the time of writing. So how can the paper really call it a "review" in bold type?
I don't doubt that the writer did us a good service, and I don't mean to knock that. Also I realise that the situation was caused by the paper having a deadline, and that it was better to get this write-up and photo in early, rather than wait 'til the reporter had a chance to see it (which I believe she did later, and trust she enjoyed it).
But I'm offering my (perhaps cantankerous) opinion to try and encourage some higher standards of reviewing, involving a bit more consideration and educated opinion; not just blind praise or reiterating the story...as it seems most reviews only seem capable of.
I trust I may cop some flack for my apparent ungratefulness, which is regrettable. It is unfortunate that I should be criticising this example, which has been very positive to us. But it was simply the best opportunity to express something I feel strongly about, and not seem to be throwing a taint on someone else's good critique.
Cheers,
Craig
[%sig%]
You said you'd like to hear a review of our show. We did seven shows in Geelong, to packed houses - this was written in the Geelong Advertiser, with a very nice cast photo:
-----------------------------
Review.
"A nostalgic trip back to childhood days". - Rochelle Smith
The audience at GPAC's Blakiston Theatre on Tuesday night was transported back to their childhoods by the Perth Theatre Company's production of Tom Hungerford's Stories From Suburban Road.
This absolutely delightful play, adapted by Alan Becher from Hungerford's autobiographical stories, chronicles the adventures of young Tom growing up in South Perth during the 1920s and '30s.
Becher also directs. Under his guidance and vision the cast of six actors creates Tom's world through ingenious mime, expression, music and storytelling.
Starring three men and three women - Michelle Doake, Kim de Lury, Kate Mulvany, Rohan Nichol, Toni Pearen and Craig Williams (also a member of the original 1990 cast) - Stories From Suburban Road transcends the boundaries of age and gender. Each of the actors has a turn with the role of Tom.
The others then take varying roles as Mum, Dad, brothers, sisters, mates, the town drunk, and many more idiosyncratic characters.
Warm, funny and, at times, sad, Stories From Suburban Road is full of real characters that will no doubt create a sense of deja vu for everyone who remembers what it was like to be a kid.
-------------------------------
Hope that gives a bit of an idea of the show. I haven't really seen any other writeups, as we haven't stayed long enough in one venue 'til now.
But, as nice as it all sounds - I don't really consider it a good review!
Although it says all the right things, and is very positive, it really isn't anything that can't be simply taken directly from our press release or the programme. In fact, I don't believe the reporter, who took notes at the photo session, had actually seen the show at the time of writing. So how can the paper really call it a "review" in bold type?
I don't doubt that the writer did us a good service, and I don't mean to knock that. Also I realise that the situation was caused by the paper having a deadline, and that it was better to get this write-up and photo in early, rather than wait 'til the reporter had a chance to see it (which I believe she did later, and trust she enjoyed it).
But I'm offering my (perhaps cantankerous) opinion to try and encourage some higher standards of reviewing, involving a bit more consideration and educated opinion; not just blind praise or reiterating the story...as it seems most reviews only seem capable of.
I trust I may cop some flack for my apparent ungratefulness, which is regrettable. It is unfortunate that I should be criticising this example, which has been very positive to us. But it was simply the best opportunity to express something I feel strongly about, and not seem to be throwing a taint on someone else's good critique.
Cheers,
Craig
[%sig%]
Re: News and reviews (?)
Tue, 28 May 2002, 03:22 pmHi Crgwllms, Grant, Jason and anyone else listening,
It does appear to me nowadays that reviews, and I am talking particularly of those in Major Newspapers and Magazines, seem to hide behind the same, dull formula.
Now I'm not stating this in regard to ALL reviews, but a great deal out there. I often find myself reading the review section (whether film or theatre) in the "State" Newspaper, knowing exactly what to expect.
As was pointed out by crgwllms, we are often reading samples of 'blind praise or reiterating the story'. But in MY opinion, it is the Reviewer's task to see even further past the story and a warranted opinion of the production to keep the general public content. And Let me just say, there is a HUGE difference between negative criticism and constructive criticism.
I come to this website to read reviews because I have noticed that those posted are generally down to earth, honest reviews that are mostly constructive in criticism. That is what I want to see. I will work the story out myself when I get to see the Production. It's a Pity for most of us that it is extremely hard to find positions in reputable Newspapers nowadays to take over those reviews that seem only half written. (and again I'm not saying that all the reviews are)
I am not in any way saying that my reviews reflect my argument, but as someone who does review on this site, even if only occasionally, it is something to think about and embody when reviewing.
The Review Master