tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post8129655217140736413..comments2023-09-20T14:34:21.102+02:00Comments on Postcards from the Gods: AND I AM NOT A MORON OR I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO TYPE!Andrew Haydonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05568061302451610140noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-65024923554903750412010-01-19T14:35:34.292+01:002010-01-19T14:35:34.292+01:00Curioser and curioser. Having read about the autho...Curioser and curioser. Having read about the author of The Pendulum on The Times website today (he's a bullfighter now, apparently), I found your review on Time Out along with those quotations you mention from other reviewers which you found so incomprehensible. I left a comment there wondering if maybe you saw it on a different night to them. Well, I guess I can ask the horse's mouth for the horses' answer here. Did you? (I'm assuming you know what the other reviewers look like).Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488941326948315765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-29390489105147589842009-02-02T00:18:00.000+01:002009-02-02T00:18:00.000+01:00We're always terribly civil over at London Theatre...We're always terribly civil over at London Theatre Blog, but occasionally even we inspire a teensy bit of irate feedback: http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/hotel-medea/Stephe Harrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05321983452581764577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-11882606908152408162009-01-30T00:38:00.000+01:002009-01-30T00:38:00.000+01:00I would never normally dream of leaving any respon...I would never normally dream of leaving any response to a review of a play of mine, no matter how much a critic disliked a show. But I once had a review of a show based on an historic event where the critic (in a Scottish newspaper) tried to display a superior knowledge of the subject to mine, and inherently that my play was inaccurate. As far as I was concerned that threw down a gauntlet and I did respond in the on-line comment section (and wrote to the editor of the newspaper). When I showed the review to an historian and researcher of the subject he laughed and pointed out that the critic was clearly just using a film of the subject as a reference. So, it was lazy journalism and I felt even more justified to have responded. As far as my writing or the skills of the director or actors, he is entitled to his opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-62623846799861816892009-01-24T21:44:00.000+01:002009-01-24T21:44:00.000+01:00Not necessarily, Ian. I think the majority of peop...Not necessarily, Ian. I think the majority of people often remain self-conscious, even when anonymity is possible online, because you perceive yourself as present. Admittedly the challenge is that minority who do feel like that. <BR/><BR/>And the flipside is that - particularly in the status-hierarchy of theatre - that a degree of masking can enable necessary honesty, bypassing the tyranny of niceness.<BR/><BR/>The very best exchanges happen in the open space of Devoted & Disgruntled, you are yourself but no one ever needs ask your name.<BR/><BR/>I do think that pseudonymity online catches the best of both worlds. You're still ultimately accountable. But perhaps only your friends will easily know who you really are.TShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01419612031881597927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-63521726062068863402009-01-24T21:21:00.000+01:002009-01-24T21:21:00.000+01:00A phrase from Lord Of The Flies has stayed with me...A phrase from <I>Lord Of The Flies</I> has stayed with me, describing the effect when the public-school choirboys donned face-paint as hunters: "liberated from shame and self-consciousness". That's what happens to us all when we don silicon and post online.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-26573113146333717782009-01-23T21:17:00.000+01:002009-01-23T21:17:00.000+01:00Poor Robert Shaw. What he has done is the equivale...Poor Robert Shaw. <BR/><BR/>What he has done is the equivalent of writing a crazy email to his ex, explaining all the reasons why he (Robert) is great and breaking up with him was a terrible mistake they will live to regret.<BR/><BR/>What did he think? That Lyn Gardiner would reply saying "oh my god you are so right, I AM a philistine"? No. Of course not. She's just going to do what anyone would do on receipt of a slightly crazy email from her ex: read it to her mates and have a good laugh.<BR/><BR/>I entirely understand why Mr Shaw wrote the response that he did. Calling Lyn Gardiner a philistine would have been an excellent therapeutic exercise. But if only he had had a close friend on standby to stop him from posting it publicly. Whoever allowed/encouraged him to do this should be ashamed of themselves. <BR/><BR/>As for the comments boxes, yes I agree. The democratic nature of the internet is truly dangerous. People feel far to free to express their opinions when they are allowed to do so...anonymously...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-89229744186244088922009-01-23T18:53:00.000+01:002009-01-23T18:53:00.000+01:00Whingers: "any spelling or factural error is seize...Whingers: "any spelling or factural error is seized on as proof that everything you write is completely wrong" - FFS, it's "FACTUAL"! You know NOTHING!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-79434012342828509602009-01-22T22:54:00.000+01:002009-01-22T22:54:00.000+01:00Yes, fans may weigh in, fists flailing, to defend ...Yes, fans may weigh in, fists flailing, to defend a show they've loved. But these defences are often more extreme with popular art: critics are often, in my experience, accused of snotty elitism around musicals, as well as mass-appeal movies and novels. Wearing your critical specs to view something which aims to give the audience a rip-roaring good time can seem a peculiar activity.<BR/><BR/>Even as a hack, I know how insanely chuffed or downcast stray comments can make me feel, so lord knows how those who are extensively reviewed cope with the mood swings. By not reading the reviews, I guess, and maintaining an inhumanly serene detachment. But, Andrew, do you think of the artists when you write a review? Do you expect them to read it? Does that make any difference to the way you write?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-87727454184455771972009-01-22T20:27:00.000+01:002009-01-22T20:27:00.000+01:00Sorry, one of my least amusing blog posts has been...Sorry, one of my least amusing blog posts has been listed as a link to this - the link has been generated automatically by blogger because I read your blog.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, this is very funny. I love the way you have categorised the rantings; rhetorical flair is my favourite cateory.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07532657035761216045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-15975504182374517982009-01-22T14:41:00.000+01:002009-01-22T14:41:00.000+01:00Ed, I'm hoping that's an ironic reflection on crit...Ed, I'm hoping that's an ironic reflection on criticising critics criticisinhg criticism of critics. <BR/><BR/>Andy, yes, shameless, isn't it? I'm sure my natural modesty will return and I'll take it off again within a couple of days...<BR/><BR/>TSS, past 27, thanks, although if you'd seen my driving you'd still worry. <BR/><BR/>WEW, "I'm not quite sure what it says about human nature that the indignation you cover here is only ever from people who loved a show that the critic hated (or even simply felt less warmly about) and rarely the other way round."<BR/><BR/>I'd like to imagine it's because people are generally generous enough to leave things alone if someone else liked something. I'm sure I have seen such posts, I've certainly heard such comments, along the lines of "are you mad? How on earth could you enjoy that?" But it seems in general that unless people really do suspect ulterior motives/foul play they'll let someone be nice about something they didn't like...Andrew Haydonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05568061302451610140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-45343873835586388762009-01-22T14:22:00.000+01:002009-01-22T14:22:00.000+01:00God, what a dull blog post.God, what a dull blog post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-5631862737148693342009-01-22T14:21:00.000+01:002009-01-22T14:21:00.000+01:00Dorian Gray, perhaps?Dorian Gray, perhaps?TSShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12435848059809015737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-77448054249703997132009-01-22T14:14:00.000+01:002009-01-22T14:14:00.000+01:00Can't believe you actually have Ravenhill's commen...Can't believe you actually have Ravenhill's comment on your blog now. <BR/><BR/>Surely the Evelyn Waugh of theatre criticism?Andrew Fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00837535447180621963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-33476633932304411482009-01-22T13:21:00.000+01:002009-01-22T13:21:00.000+01:00The Guardian exchange is destined for a future tex...The Guardian exchange is destined for a future textbook. In Hole Stop Digging. Wow. Thanks for the steer.<BR/><BR/>Extremely interesting categorisation of the typical comment responses in that situation. I wonder how far it extends across to other contexts where the commenter believes the writer is wrong. I'd guess it probably applies to 90% of comments that are not themselves simply phatic. Although noting the Whingers' observation that it may only work when commenter loved what writer hated.<BR/><BR/>I hope that you're older than 27 to get away from the full consequences of Ravenhill's tag.TSShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12435848059809015737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-92074945206918611252009-01-22T12:08:00.000+01:002009-01-22T12:08:00.000+01:00Excellent stuff but you've missed out two of our f...Excellent stuff but you've missed out two of our favourites that we often get.<BR/><BR/>The first is that any spelling or factural error is seized on as proof that everything you write is completely wrong. What with not having teams of sub-editors at our disposal, this is quite common. Good example of this here: http://westendwhingers.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/review-jersey-boys-prince-edward-theatre-london/#comment-18647<BR/><BR/>The second is the depth of the "Well, I'd like to see you do better" response to which even famous playwrights(possibly) have been known to sink:<BR/>http://westendwhingers.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/review-fat-pig-trafalgar-studios/#comment-18203 although on that occasion it is aimed at a commenter rather than us.<BR/><BR/>I'm not quite sure what it says about human nature that the indignation you cover here is only ever from people who loved a show that the critic hated (or even simply felt less warmly about) and rarely the other way round.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-36820214464595675052009-01-22T02:52:00.000+01:002009-01-22T02:52:00.000+01:00Ooh, thanks for alerting me to that exchange chez ...Ooh, thanks for alerting me to that exchange chez Grauniad - I've just gone over and left a word or two there.<BR/><BR/>You're right, of course. Twice in the past handful of issues of Theatre Record I've editorialised at length about people defending "their" shows - first, the husband of the director/co-writer of "Rue Magique" at the King's Head, then the producer of "Imagine This". In both cases, the line was broadly speaking "We were misunderstood!" Some people do seem to find it very difficult ever to acknowledge that a critic might have a point... which rather begs the question, how then do they learn to do any better? And the Coveney comments exemplify the reason I no longer read Private Eye's mock-blog column: it's agonising because it's so true.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com