I may be spoiled, growing up, I read Walter Kerr every Sunday. The tone and attitude he took was that of a congenial venerable man-of-the-theatre who’d seen a lot and therefore had a lot of wisdom to impart. Every review seemed like a letter to the playwright, pointing out what was good –and why! – what was in need of improvement – and why. You never got the sense Kerr was angry about anything, and no playwright reading him would get angry either.
I may be quixotic, but my goal is to have 100% of my audience feel like they’ve had a wonderful time at the theatre. I don’t write these things for ME, but rather for the paying customers. If one has a quibble, no matter how minor, I want to hear about it; the hope being that I’ll learn from the criticism and do things better the next time. I don’t see how one can improve any other way.
Sure, I wish every critic had the patience and wisdom of Kerr, but you play the cards you’re given. And if that’s chat board posters younger than Swishy Sarah, it’s O.K.
