For some reason, this marvelous essay by John Barry, a freelance writer in Baltimore, about reviewing local community theatre has brought tears to my eyes!! But it goes on a journey first – and I found myself laughing out loud, too – in recognition – and appreciation. And by the end, it really packs a punch. Yes, yes, yes.
And I loved this part, too:
The people on stage were policemen, computer programmers, starry-eyed sophomores, retired schoolteachers. The plays weren’t classics, but they weren’t exactly cutting-edge: Broadway standbys (Art), comic dramas (Fuddy Meers), zany madcap farces (Lend Me a Tenor!), and musicals, musicals, musicals. And Sondheim.
My readership changed. I was no longer writing for potential theatergoers, people looking for my advice on whether to shell out for tickets. I wasn’t even being read by the actors in the plays. I was being read by their best friends and close relatives. And they knew who I was. They knew where I lived. And they knew when I screwed up the names: Thanks for the review and glad you found the show enjoyable. Just a couple of little points…The “stern taskmaster” you describe is actually Florindo, played by Chris Hickle.
hahahahaha God, that is so right ON. But Barry is after a deeper truth, a deeper experience – and it’s (for me) at the moment when he recalls a bad review he got 20 years ago … that I realized: Wow. This essay is not going where I thought it would. Wonderful. (Here’s the link to it again) It’s one of the best essays I have read in a long long time.
Update:
Marisa’s great post on this topic.
It just makes me want to start writing countless posts on all my community theatre experiences. I love the part where he recounts the loud gunshot and how the program warned about it. That’s classic. Only in community theatre would you warn your audience members in the program of sound effects to come.
And the ending was terrific. I understand why he’s hesitant to cast honesty aside but I would say in situations like that that the world doesn’t need another Frank Rich. Just praise what they did well and stay mum on the rest.
Of course, honesty might be what they want to improve their productions so…
As a former community theatre participant, I enjoyed this too! Only, where we have community theatre, just getting noticed by a reviewer would have been good enough!
Although…Im really glad no one came to see our version of Bus Stop.
I loved the director. He’s a good friend. Even liked a couple of the cast members…Jim Carrey’s “sooooomebody FAAAAABuloooooous!” will never be the same for me…but the rest? OMG. Id rather keep it to myself.
Sharon – yeah, I’ve definitely been in a couple of those myself!!
Yeah, so I started to comment and it got out of control and I posted it on my blog ’cause it was just way crazy long. So I have a comment. You know where to look. :)
Jonathan – you have to write up some of your experiences! If I can share my half-hour Macbeth, you can share yours!!
What a great essay. Oh how my heart aches for community theater. I loved MOST of my experiences because of the people. Things I miss are the big fish in the little pond divas, the manic costume directors with safety pins, bobby pins, tape, tin foil and pencils all sticking out of their hair, sets that could fall on your head at a moments notice, PANCAKE makeup that you see put on with a spackle blade…but mostly, I miss that people gave their honest best effort. I never said it was good, but at least it was their best.
Sadly, the papers up our way stopped reviewing community theater…PERIOD! When asked why, it was blatantly stated that it wasn’t worth their time and effort. WOW! Instead we get theater professors from the local colleges that review every traveling professional show that comes to town and they rip them to pieces. Sad but true.
Oh well, I’ll continue to work for my little semi-pro mystery dinner theater company and I know the next time I’m asked to audition for a community show (probably another Inge..hehehe) I show up and see what happens. You never know who could be watching and that is the greatest part.