tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post963837217214424744..comments2024-02-18T19:36:43.844+11:00Comments on theatre notes: Briefs: Howie the Rookie, Hypatia II, In The Next RoomAlison Croggonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-27626850623092925072011-05-06T21:32:40.201+10:002011-05-06T21:32:40.201+10:00CRITICISM OF A FUTURE AGE:
"I thought it was...CRITICISM OF A FUTURE AGE:<br /><br />"I thought it was good/bad/a worthy attempt". (choose description)<br /><br />no/1/2/3/4/5 stars<br /><br />By (author's name)<br /><br />I suppose the irony is that it is the internet that is accused of its limitations for criticism (although... less and less?)Richard Pettiferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916298496154973547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-64432018812477478962011-05-05T19:58:18.454+10:002011-05-05T19:58:18.454+10:00That's nice Tristan, but I do some 300 words i...That's nice Tristan, but I do some 300 words indeed for my project, :-)wfshttp://watchfaveshows.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-25965297886634834772011-04-29T08:45:52.316+10:002011-04-29T08:45:52.316+10:00No slight taken, Tristan - nor intended towards th...No slight taken, Tristan - nor intended towards those struggling with limited word counts. I've had to do my share of 100 word reviews for the Oz.Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-30706973873778621492011-04-28T23:49:24.445+10:002011-04-28T23:49:24.445+10:00And, I'll just add writing anything about thea...And, I'll just add writing anything about theatre, that is comprehensive and worthwhile, in 300/250 words is pretty impressive.Tristan Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03987594357760132040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-85522335378276632011-04-28T23:35:52.473+10:002011-04-28T23:35:52.473+10:00Oh, I know. By in part, I meant that you could dis...Oh, I know. By in part, I meant that you could discuss half the show. It wasn't meant as a slight about your lack of dedication or effort. I'm familiar with the amount of work that goes into theatre criticism...Tristan Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03987594357760132040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-44265785554519306132011-04-28T22:12:26.359+10:002011-04-28T22:12:26.359+10:00Nothing like being prompted to make you extend an ...Nothing like being prompted to make you extend an argument. Not that - I confess freely - mine about The Next Room was much of an argument in the first place! But yes, hooray for conversation.<br /><br />Mind you, even these briefs average out at over 300 words each: ie, 50 words more than the new official length for reviews in the Age...Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-10492350439839839642011-04-28T20:15:33.926+10:002011-04-28T20:15:33.926+10:00Thanks for your thoughts on The Next Room, Alison....Thanks for your thoughts on The Next Room, Alison.<br /><br />I think one of the first things I said as I left the theatre was 'I wonder what Alison would have to say about that.' and you (at least in part) answered me.<br /><br />I actually found your responses in the comments here more interesting than what you originally wrote. <br /><br />(hooray for blog discussions!)Tristan Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03987594357760132040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-82086063408326849802011-04-28T08:38:26.026+10:002011-04-28T08:38:26.026+10:00Yes, it is a matter of opinion... Criminal? I'...Yes, it is a matter of opinion... Criminal? I'm not sure. Maybe if, as sometimes people seem to think, I had a staff and an office and a salary at TN, I could be expected to cover everything as it deserves, but I don't. There is the problem of sustaining criticism on the internet (as brought up in another discussion here recently) in a nutshell. How responsible to the totality of theatre Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-22192050067852142072011-04-28T05:23:29.984+10:002011-04-28T05:23:29.984+10:00Of course in the end it's only a difference of...Of course in the end it's only a difference of opinion.<br />I will agree that Howie the rookie was a little loud (especially in the second act) but it wasn't as bad as you make out - and i agree the bones on the set were pointless (stupid in fact. was there a theme of bones at all)? but how you could praise Baal yet in comparison tuck Howie under the carpet is criminal. the show was Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-45005769860629284102011-04-26T08:42:33.241+10:002011-04-26T08:42:33.241+10:00Merlots are definitely bad for the syntax, James.
...Merlots are definitely bad for the syntax, James.<br /><br />Thanks Sarah (although I should say the comments about the production are honestly meant). To be accurate, Dead Man's Cell Phone made me think of Milne. There's another Parker review where, as in this one, she found herself outside at interval, and somehow never went back...<br /><br />I'm not sure what your problem is, Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-66667027737497506962011-04-26T08:14:25.758+10:002011-04-26T08:14:25.758+10:00Alison
I didn't say you loathed all drawing ro...Alison<br />I didn't say you loathed all drawing room comedies, a more careful reading of my post will show that I said "pointless" ones, which this one certainly is. Syntax, like irony, is a subtle art...<br />Augusta Supple writes well about this play, I recommend her blog as a review of the entire play, as well as the James Waites comments I mentioned before. They are both very Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01400137401500268708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-37830613331804546152011-04-25T23:17:34.290+10:002011-04-25T23:17:34.290+10:00That should be "waste". Forgive my poor ...That should be "waste". Forgive my poor sentence structure, I've enjoyed a few Merlots this evening.James Andrew Cooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-80289332741301984802011-04-25T23:15:47.002+10:002011-04-25T23:15:47.002+10:00Thrilled to hear that I wasn't the only one to...Thrilled to hear that I wasn't the only one to walk out after the first half of "In the Next Room". How sad that not just one, but two of Australia's mainstage theatre companies felt compelled to waist a valuable programming spot on this turkey of a play.James Andrew Cooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-46657441916354713942011-04-25T21:02:40.035+10:002011-04-25T21:02:40.035+10:00It's what's called damning with faint prai...It's what's called damning with faint praise Rebecca, and as the reference (and link) to Dorothy Parker made clear, it made her want to fwow up! Think I can definitely pass on this one!Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-31267266451224158292011-04-25T18:35:55.402+10:002011-04-25T18:35:55.402+10:00Hi Rebecca - I don't actually loathe drawing r...Hi Rebecca - I don't actually loathe drawing room comedies (Wilde being pretty well top of my love list). I just dislike them when they're badly done. Sarah Ruhl is something else entirely. I'm puzzled you thought this was "forgiveness", though. Maybe irony is a subtle art.<br /><br />Yes, I thought the production was extremely well done. That's where I have "Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-28411289288136037442011-04-25T16:39:01.992+10:002011-04-25T16:39:01.992+10:00Hypatia II sounds as though it was well worth seei...Hypatia II sounds as though it was well worth seeing, and I'm sorry I missed it. I am amazed however at your benign forgiveness of the egregious "In the Next Room," to me one of the most pointless pieces of theatre I have ever seen. For once in my life I completely agree with that Cameron Woodhead person--lavish fortunes spent on costumes, sets and lighting cannot disguise a crap Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01400137401500268708noreply@blogger.com