Dear Mr. Gallagher-Ross,Before I started to concentrate more on scholarly pursuits in academics, I did a lot of work as a theatre critic. I trained under some well-respected, if not some of the most highly regarded theatre critics in the country, some of which contributed to giving the Voice a reputation for being a periodical worth reading, due to its informed insight into the cultural fabric of the "underground" NYC theatre scene, often highlighting the merits of up and coming companies. I am also still a proud member of the ATCA and the LMDA.
This all being said, I don't know you. I don't know if you were assigned this show for very little compensation (as we often are), and/or forced to see it at such a time where you weren't able to catch dinner beforehand or... but I am not sure if you are aware of this but arts criticism is a dying art, and yes I just said "art." For I was taught, or more accurately grilled, to put artistry into the words used to describe the ephemeral wonders and blunders of theatre; you however literally have made a list of the things that irritated you about this show. Treating theatre, of any kind, so haphazardly is not only unfair to the show, company, actors, directors, playwright you reviewed, but compromises the integrity of the art form of theater criticism, where each and every word should be infused with such precise meaning that you can literally evoke the milieu of the ephemeral event you experienced, either good or bad. You intentionally belittle the efforts of an emerging, burgeoning company that may not have put on the best theatre event you have ever seen, but certainly deserves more than what you have given them here.
You have insulted all of us who have trained laboriously to be not just objective, insightful, and dramaturgicaly dedicated and well educated about all aspects of theatre craft, but also artful when we write about theatre, a dying art, along with, I am not sure if you have been informed, theatre criticism itself. So no, a list is not enough, and I as a member of the theatre critic community, I am offended you thought it was. For you underscore the reason why theatre critics are becoming obsolete, and the art of true theatre criticism is being devalued. No wonder arts critics are being the first to be laid from periodicals.
If you are going to review a show, take your job seriously. Because you are not just "hurting" the show you are reviewing but those of us that have dedicated a great deal of our lives to trying to prove the merits of keeping theatre, and in conjunction theatre criticism, breathing, alive, and hopefully thriving.
Lori
