23/11/03 Reviewing the Reviewer, Part 2

One thing we need to remember here is that nobody really takes criticism well. Someone only has to post on the Musical Theatre website that they thought a show had shortcomings and a discussion thread of about 413 letters will ensue. (Look how long the "Reviews" discussion thread has got. It is certainly something people are passionate about.) So here's my bit's worth...

By and large, we do not naturally seek criticism out or crave it. Some of us don't even listen to it and respond by swinging fists and looking for excuses/justifications before even looking at or behind what a critic has to say. Hell, I'm as guilty as he next man on that score.

I guess we react defensively because criticism (perhaps incorrectly) suggests that we have failed in some way. Interestingly enough, I just read in a Reader's Digest at the Page Vietnamese that Michael Jordan once reputedly said, "I have failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." And there's the rub. If you can convert what a critic sensitively or insensitively has to say about your performance - particularly one branded a failure - into making sure your next one is better, then that is useful, positive forward-thinking. Development, improvement, growth and success can only follow in your art.

Recognising critics are not members of our theatre company, immediate family or friendship peer groups - and understanding they are writing for the person paying full price for a ticket - they have a duty to be honest. It must be difficult for them to dish out a negative critique to a company that may, hypothetically, go bust if the houses are not good or is full of well-intentioned, community-minded but theatrically-handicapped performers. But the harsh truth is... this is not their responsibility or problem. Accurately commenting on and criticising the 'product', from an educated and well-informed standpoint is.

In an ideal world, critics are balanced, consistent and articulate - on top of being educated and well-informed. They are able to see all the good things we do and are able to indicate our shortcomings in a way that makes us want to improve on them. But the world is not ideal. And critics, like our performances, are far from perfect.

So, like life, we need to take the best we can from criticism - be it positive or negative - so that we can use it to move closer to success or some sort of happiness through what we do and are passionate about.