Comments

Comments

Anonymous March 1st, 2007

I'd just like to add, thesbians are very lucky to have opinions made about our work, so that we can continue to grow and shape future productions and performances. Don't bag people who are continuing to help our wonderful community flourish. If there weren't varied opinions about shows, they would not be making impact. And, in a sense, isn't that what theatre is all about? Challenging views, telling stories, and providing a stage (quite literally) where we have a voice. You go John. I think you're doinga damn good job.

Moya Bannerman February 26th, 2007

Yay to David – it had to be said. This site is not a garbage dump. My feeling was – is – that such comments as those posted above his, and some elsewhere, are so incoherent they speak for themselves. They certainly do no favours to the show they hope to defend. John’s obviously happy for people to express differing opinions, he wouldn’t have added this facility otherwise, and he knows he’s not infallible. But like David says, let’s keep it constructive and about the work, not the people. A tip to comment posters: work out what you want to say in Word or Notepad first; revise and edit (as the reviewers obviously do); then, when it’s ready, copy and paste.

David Lawrence February 26th, 2007

Erm, let’s lay off bashing John for a bit, please? There have been several posts lately that well surpass any perceived ‘nastiness’ in the content of John’s reviews (and I’m not necessarily attacking anyone above personally – I could have attached this post to several different threads over the past week). Yes, we’re all entitled to our opinions, and yes, in the past I’ve seen John slate shows I’ve enjoyed and rave about shows I’ve thought were absolute shit BUT during Fringe time the fact remains that John is the ONLY PERSON reviewing ALL of these shows, while the rest of us may only see a handful of shows (or perhaps even just one) and therefore have no context to measure them against. I’m sure one particular script or actor or production may seem great if it’s the only thing you see, but when you’re giving up your time to see as many as four shows per night every night of the week, you cannot help but compare the standards of one show against another. In this day and age, when arts coverage is a low priority for The Dominion Post and where the Capital Times’ theatre reviews are bound by space limits, we should be grateful that John is taking the time – unpaid – to see all of these productions and get reviews of them up on the ’site as quickly as possible, whether we agree with his opinions or not. If it weren’t for John, many of the shows in this year’s (and previous years’) Fringe Festivals would have had NO COVERAGE AT ALL. It’s also worth pointing out that, since he has financed it entirely off his own back, this is essentially John’s site (even though he has established it for the greater good of the NZ theatre community/industry) and he can say what he likes. You wouldn’t log onto someone’s personal blog and post stuff like “Your review is bullshit”. This is not an industry for the faint-hearted or weak-willed, and there’ll always be someone who won’t get or like what you’re doing, so just take the criticism, or ignore it, or whatever. Let’s by all means enter into conversation and debate and discussion and disagree about plays & productions, but can we do it in an intelligent and adult manner, and without turning it into a personality attack on the reviewer?

clement frued February 26th, 2007

the reviewer seems baffled and out done. he appears to have answered his own snaring questions and missed the point? theatre was in dire need of such a commentry. FINALLY A PIECE OF THEATRE WHICH PUT OUR BRAINS TO USE. LIKE A FILM ONE HAS TO SEE TWICE. " THE MAIN ACTOR MUST BE FROM ANOTHER PLANET" (MY WIFES SENIMENT) WHERE EVER DID THEY COME UP WITH SUCH TALES. WE WERE RELIEVED AND REFRESHED. C.F.

clement frued February 26th, 2007

FINALLY A PIECE OF THEATRE WHICH PUT OUR BRAINS TO USE. LIKE A FILM ONE HAS TO SEE TWICE. " THE MAIN ACTOR MUST BE FROM ANOTHER PLANET" (MY WIFES SENIMENT) WHERE EVER DID THEY COME UP WITH SUCH TALES. WE WERE RELIEVED AND REFRESHED. C.F.

Mel Stevenson February 26th, 2007

Smyth's nasty ending to this review was not what the cast attempted or came accrose as doing. It seems John projects his opinions as if true ! Or at least correct which I feel not to be the case. This piece of theatre I found to be thought provoking and enjoyable to watch . I cannot say enough about the acting which I found to be of a high standard. Gillespie in the court room was excellent. A good show on the whole. Keep up the good work.

David February 26th, 2007

John Smyths moan to groan and back to moan groan .