The Green Room - Bad Reviews

Reply #10 - Sep 4^th, 2009 at 11:45am

shimmer Offline
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La Mirada, CA

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It is very possible to maintain the integrity of a piece and the director's vision while still taking to heart criticisms from outsiders and making your work better.

Of all the reviews I've had, the majority were positive (thank the HEAVENS) but I did have one that said my performance could use more "punch." I wasn't offended. I tried what I though that meant, and the director actually said to me later that they had been trying to figure out what was missing and that I had found it at that point.

Ultimately - CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is a good thing.

Plus, the potential audience reading the review deserves to know what strengths and weaknesses are there so they don't go into it ignorant. Reviews are not praise for a production.

They're like the warning label on any other product.

"Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. " C.S. Lewis

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Reply #11 - Sep 4^th, 2009 at 12:17pm

The Dark Knight Ex Member

shimmer wrote on Sep 4^th, 2009 at 11:45am:

It is very possible to maintain the integrity of a piece and the director's vision while still taking to heart criticisms from outsiders and making your work better.

Of all the reviews I've had, the majority were positive (thank the HEAVENS) but I did have one that said my performance could use more "punch." �I wasn't offended. �I tried what I though that meant, and the director actually said to me later that they had been trying to figure out what was missing and that I had found it at that point.

Ultimately - CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is a good thing.

Plus, the potential audience reading the review deserves to know what strengths and weaknesses are there so they don't go into it ignorant. �Reviews are not praise for a production.

They're like the warning label on any other product.

Agreed. The kind of changes that worry me is when an actor decides to switch accents, or their whole concept of the character, mid run. Adding "punch", energy, whatever, is not likely to cause any problems.

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Reply #12 - Sep 4^th, 2009 at 2:58pm

The Kaylee and the Ivy Offline
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I come across a lot of Ashkettle's reviews in my job. I think she says exactly what she thinks, and I think it is refreshing. I dislike most local reviewers' trope of describing the setting and the plot of the play and hastily tacking on "oh and the actors, they were cool too".

If we're going to die, let's die looking like a Peruvian folk band.

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Reply #13 - Sep 4^th, 2009 at 3:02pm

Bruce Wayne Offline
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Salt Lake

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The Kaylee and the Ivy wrote on Sep 4^th, 2009 at 2:58pm:

I come across a lot of Ashkettle's reviews in my job. I think she says exactly what she thinks, and I think it is refreshing. I dislike most local reviewers' trope of describing the setting and the plot of the play and hastily tacking on "oh and the actors, they were cool too".

Agreed. Thank you! That's the nature of the business.

That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do. Not that the nature of the thing itself has changed, but that our ability to do increased.&&-Ralph Waldo Emmerson

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Reply #14 - Sep 10^th, 2009 at 9:40am

RENTBOY Offline
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That's poetic that's pathetic

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The Kaylee and the Ivy wrote on Sep 4^th, 2009 at 2:58pm:

I come across a lot of Ashkettle's reviews in my job. I think she says exactly what she thinks, and I think it is refreshing. I dislike most local reviewers' trope of describing the setting and the plot of the play and hastily tacking on "oh and the actors, they were cool too".

like an Erica Hansen review????

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Reply #15 - Jan 7^th, 2010 at 2:10pm

Captain Malcolm Reynolds Offline
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Serenity

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Anyone notice that now we're reviewing reviewers? It just struck me as funny. I would like to say first off, that as to the original question, yes, name names. That's how it works. Secondly, I respect critics and reviewers, even when i don't agree with them. They have an incredibly difficult job. Have you ever gone to a friend's show and not liked it or their performance and then afterwards they asked you what you thought? Yeah, not fun. Also, being able to say why something was good or not so good in an intelligent way is not as easy as one might think.

If someone tries to kill you, you kill them right back!

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Reply #16 - Jan 7^th, 2010 at 2:39pm

The Dark Knight Ex Member

Captain Malcolm Reynolds wrote on Jan 7^th, 2010 at 2:10pm:

� Anyone notice that now we're reviewing reviewers?� It just struck me as funny.� I would like to say first off, that as to the original question, yes, name names.� That's how it works.� Secondly, I respect critics and reviewers, even when i don't agree with them.� They have an incredibly difficult job.� Have you ever gone to a friend's show and not liked it or their performance and then afterwards they asked you what you thought?� Yeah, not fun.� Also, being able to say why something was good or not so good in an intelligent way is not as easy as one might think.

Well said, friend.

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Reply #17 - Jan 9^th, 2010 at 2:57pm

Hirsute Offline
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Hum. �A Critter Pot-Pie

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Quote:

I

don't think

Kelly Ashkettle

should be allowed to review anything if she chooses to use people's names when she puts them down

I think this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. (No pun on the reviewer's last name intended)

Spiteful, vindictive, very large. �But never crazy. Yes, of course! �I totally monged a whole crapload of war this morning!

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Reply #18 - Jan 9^th, 2010 at 5:08pm

The Kaylee and the Ivy Offline
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Quote:

Captain Malcolm Reynolds wrote on Jan 7^th, 2010 at 2:10pm:

� Anyone notice that now we're reviewing reviewers?� It just struck me as funny.� I would like to say first off, that as to the original question, yes, name names.� That's how it works.� Secondly, I respect critics and reviewers, even when i don't agree with them.� They have an incredibly difficult job.� Have you ever gone to a friend's show and not liked it or their performance and then afterwards they asked you what you thought?� Yeah, not fun.� Also, being able to say why something was good or not so good in an intelligent way is not as easy as one might think.

Well said, friend.

I hunted and hunted for this clip and could not find it, but there is this really great bit in season one of 30 Rock where Liz talks about complimenting Jenna's bad shows. "The lighting was great! The programs were really easy to read!"

I think we've probably all felt like that. Cheesy

If we're going to die, let's die looking like a Peruvian folk band.

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Reply #19 - Jan 11^th, 2010 at 10:17am

The Heathenist Offline
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it's the bitch of living.
SALT LAKE CITY

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Kelly Ashkettle gave me a good review...so...review away KELLY! Wink

jk.

nah. names should be used.

i mean, what is she supposed to say?: "this one performer who sang this certain song in the show i saw this weekend kinda sucked?" what kind of review is that?!

As long a critic mentions the show they saw, there really is no way of getting around it...if she critiques you with or without saying your name, you and everyone else STILL knows it is YOU she is talking about...

now the REAL question, which has been discussed thousands of times already, is about the person doing the critique, and whether or not they are the right person for the job...that is a WHOLE different topic. But whether Ms. Ashkettle is a REAL critic or not doesn't negate the fact that she IS being a critic for the paper. In which case, she can say whatever the hell she wants to about a person or a show that she liked or didn't like.

I'm just glad she liked me.

Love if you can and be loved.&&&&You see what you look for, ya know?&&&&I like smiling, smiling's my favorite!

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