Before I start, let me just say that I am saying this as a personal response and not as a member of Penny Presents... Anything I say doesn't neccessarily reflect the attitude that the company holds.
I'm sorry if you thought my comment was arrogant, but your "critique", to put it simply, gave me the shits.
I use quotation marks to indicate that your little diatribe about the show was merely a worthless attack on what was otherwise a well recieved show. Sure, it wasn't a professional affair, but then again, it never purported to be. However, what it did purport to be was an AMATEUR show that was performed FOR CHARITY.
And you're right, you don't need a theatre degree or loads of theatre experience to critique a show. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, to post up something like that as a review, something that is designed to influence people as to whether they want to watch the show, is quite offensive, as most of what you said was just inflammatory bullshit (my personal opinion) and some was just steeped in personal opinion.
For example...
I personally can't stand it when people attack a show for a difference in directorial vision...
"I feel that Mimi, while looking great, was far to hard and masculine in her performance of this sexy, alluring YOUNG girl. She came across as a hardened ex-stripper that has to turn to drugs to keep herself happy... this is NOT how I see the character at all. Mimi is supposed to have a sweet innocence that makes her very attractive to the men, and a wild fun streak that she lets out when taking drugs. This is why she becomes an addict, because she wants to have FUN, not wants to escape reality."
Therefore, if someone has a different vision for the character to you then it's the WRONG vision. I also liked that you seemingly mistook strength for masculinity... how feminist of you.
"The Tango 'choreography' (I use quotes because it ended up looking like a saluting contest) was so distracting, that you lost all the plot points that the song was trying to make."
"Having choreographed dancing ensemble members during that song was a TOTAL distraction from the 3 leads - again the audience missed the point of the song, due to bad staging."
Once again, the show not being performed as it has been before... and before that... and before that... and before that. How do you speak for the collective audience (I know you did get the point of the song considering you've seen the show at least three times before at Rockdale, Penrith and Canberra) as to whether they 'got' the song. The dance may have been used to reflect what was going on in the song (This was the intention anyway).
Which brings me to my favourite line...
"I believe this production had all the emotional depth of a bowl of jello."
Probably the most offensive moments of your 'critique' and the moment where your true arrogance is revealed.
Whilst Theatre_Buff's review wasn't entirely positive, I can still respect their opinion, and the fact that it is one persons opinion. In fact, I know that a lot of the cast read Theatre_Buff's review and took some of the criticisms on board. However, the same can't be said about your 'critique', as ultimately, not much was said that could be taken seriously.
All I can really say is I would LOVE to come see a performance of yours. Please, send me any details of a performance your in and I will be there with bells on. You can send it through to my email at redropelicorice(at)gmail(dot)com. On another note, I would also love if you came along and critiqued Assassins, which I am directing in May 2008. Hell, why not come audition for it!
I apologise for possibly being overly-sensitive to your response, as I am a cast member and did feel that, whilst not perfect, this production was at par with the other productions of RENT I have seen (Some audience members who have seen the show on Broadway and on the West End even commented that some cast members hold their own against their professional counterparts).
And, after all, I suppose you did end up supporting the company and the AIDS Trust of Australia through purchasing a ticket, and possibly even purchasing a program or candy bar items, so why should I complain?
Date: 22/10/2007 - 13:08
Before I start, let me just say that I am saying this as a personal response and not as a member of Penny Presents... Anything I say doesn't neccessarily reflect the attitude that the company holds.
I'm sorry if you thought my comment was arrogant, but your "critique", to put it simply, gave me the shits.
I use quotation marks to indicate that your little diatribe about the show was merely a worthless attack on what was otherwise a well recieved show. Sure, it wasn't a professional affair, but then again, it never purported to be. However, what it did purport to be was an AMATEUR show that was performed FOR CHARITY.
And you're right, you don't need a theatre degree or loads of theatre experience to critique a show. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, to post up something like that as a review, something that is designed to influence people as to whether they want to watch the show, is quite offensive, as most of what you said was just inflammatory bullshit (my personal opinion) and some was just steeped in personal opinion.
For example...
I personally can't stand it when people attack a show for a difference in directorial vision...
"I feel that Mimi, while looking great, was far to hard and masculine in her performance of this sexy, alluring YOUNG girl. She came across as a hardened ex-stripper that has to turn to drugs to keep herself happy... this is NOT how I see the character at all. Mimi is supposed to have a sweet innocence that makes her very attractive to the men, and a wild fun streak that she lets out when taking drugs. This is why she becomes an addict, because she wants to have FUN, not wants to escape reality."
Therefore, if someone has a different vision for the character to you then it's the WRONG vision. I also liked that you seemingly mistook strength for masculinity... how feminist of you.
"The Tango 'choreography' (I use quotes because it ended up looking like a saluting contest) was so distracting, that you lost all the plot points that the song was trying to make."
"Having choreographed dancing ensemble members during that song was a TOTAL distraction from the 3 leads - again the audience missed the point of the song, due to bad staging."
Once again, the show not being performed as it has been before... and before that... and before that... and before that. How do you speak for the collective audience (I know you did get the point of the song considering you've seen the show at least three times before at Rockdale, Penrith and Canberra) as to whether they 'got' the song. The dance may have been used to reflect what was going on in the song (This was the intention anyway).
Which brings me to my favourite line...
"I believe this production had all the emotional depth of a bowl of jello."
Probably the most offensive moments of your 'critique' and the moment where your true arrogance is revealed.
Whilst Theatre_Buff's review wasn't entirely positive, I can still respect their opinion, and the fact that it is one persons opinion. In fact, I know that a lot of the cast read Theatre_Buff's review and took some of the criticisms on board. However, the same can't be said about your 'critique', as ultimately, not much was said that could be taken seriously.
All I can really say is I would LOVE to come see a performance of yours. Please, send me any details of a performance your in and I will be there with bells on. You can send it through to my email at redropelicorice(at)gmail(dot)com. On another note, I would also love if you came along and critiqued Assassins, which I am directing in May 2008. Hell, why not come audition for it!
I apologise for possibly being overly-sensitive to your response, as I am a cast member and did feel that, whilst not perfect, this production was at par with the other productions of RENT I have seen (Some audience members who have seen the show on Broadway and on the West End even commented that some cast members hold their own against their professional counterparts).
And, after all, I suppose you did end up supporting the company and the AIDS Trust of Australia through purchasing a ticket, and possibly even purchasing a program or candy bar items, so why should I complain?
- Disgruntled cast member