Comments for Curtain Call http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall Crikey's theatre blog Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:06:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on REVIEW: The Maids | Sydney Theatre by Lloyd Bradford Syke http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/06/13/review-the-maids-stc-sydney/comment-page-1/#comment-1508 Lloyd Bradford Syke Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:06:02 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=3521#comment-1508 You'll have to try a lot harder to touch a nerve, Nick. Just good-natured sparring, digger. Self-styled? Yes. What other style can I be? Styled by Shimmin? Actually, I quite like facts. And history. Even herstory. Not so much your story, the way you tell it. I don't aspire to lofty heights. I'm just a bog ordinary punter, turning up to the theatre and scribbling a few impressions. May I humbly suggest your logic mightn't quite survive close scrutiny? I think I'm the apotheosis of critics because I suggest you might be a little critic-phobic? That works how, exactly? Pot stirred is shorthand for debate provoked. I happen to think that's a good thing. A productive thing. A constructive thing. Pity you see fit to lower the tone of such with your pernicious slurs. By the way, what basic facts about the production are we talking about? Please, enlighten me. Thanks for your contributions to date. I can't tell you how much I value your opinion. I really can't. You remind me of the little, old man who rings the tv station to say there's too much sex in the programme you're watching. Change the channel, Nick. You’ll have to try a lot harder to touch a nerve, Nick. Just good-natured sparring, digger. Self-styled? Yes. What other style can I be? Styled by Shimmin? Actually, I quite like facts. And history. Even herstory. Not so much your story, the way you tell it. I don’t aspire to lofty heights. I’m just a bog ordinary punter, turning up to the theatre and scribbling a few impressions. May I humbly suggest your logic mightn’t quite survive close scrutiny? I think I’m the apotheosis of critics because I suggest you might be a little critic-phobic? That works how, exactly? Pot stirred is shorthand for debate provoked. I happen to think that’s a good thing. A productive thing. A constructive thing. Pity you see fit to lower the tone of such with your pernicious slurs. By the way, what basic facts about the production are we talking about? Please, enlighten me. Thanks for your contributions to date. I can’t tell you how much I value your opinion. I really can’t. You remind me of the little, old man who rings the tv station to say there’s too much sex in the programme you’re watching. Change the channel, Nick.

]]> Comment on REVIEW: The Maids | Sydney Theatre by Nick Shimmin http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/06/13/review-the-maids-stc-sydney/comment-page-1/#comment-1507 Nick Shimmin Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:22:26 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=3521#comment-1507 goodness, Lloyd, touched a nerve? i don't think it's seeking the wisdom of Solomon to expect a self-styled theatre critic to know Basic Facts about a production of a major play he's reviewing. but perhaps facts and history don't count for much in your world. the self-satisfied "pot stirred" seems to demonstrate the lofty heights to which your writing aspires. you provoked a couple of comments on the website! congratulations! job done! you also seem to think you're the apotheosis of critics if you think my comments about your review somehow mean i have a problem with critics in general. i don't - just bad lazy ones. but keep on thanking the people who agree with you, Lloyd. thus is a strong critical culture sustained. goodness, Lloyd, touched a nerve? i don’t think it’s seeking the wisdom of Solomon to expect a self-styled theatre critic to know Basic Facts about a production of a major play he’s reviewing. but perhaps facts and history don’t count for much in your world. the self-satisfied “pot stirred” seems to demonstrate the lofty heights to which your writing aspires. you provoked a couple of comments on the website! congratulations! job done! you also seem to think you’re the apotheosis of critics if you think my comments about your review somehow mean i have a problem with critics in general. i don’t – just bad lazy ones. but keep on thanking the people who agree with you, Lloyd. thus is a strong critical culture sustained.

]]> Comment on REVIEW: The Maids | Sydney Theatre by Lloyd Bradford Syke http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/06/13/review-the-maids-stc-sydney/comment-page-1/#comment-1506 Lloyd Bradford Syke Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:37:18 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=3521#comment-1506 Nothing like a pot stirred. Humph, sorry if I my cultural memory is short but, I have to admit, at 54, it's probably not just my cultural memory. Actually, it's not a question of cultural memory. It's a question of omnipresence. I can't be everywhere at once. I'm in Sydney. I can't cover or be across everything in Sydney, let alone south of the border.Thankyou for your information. I did qualify with 'to the best of my knowledge', as I recall. Due humility, I would've thought. Thanks for your contributions, Jay, Steve and Puss. Seems I'm not sitting out on this limb completely alone. Nick, not that I expect you to believe it, of course, but nothing could be further than the truth. I REALLY wanted to love this production. I'd been looking forward to it with bated breath. Truth is, I really want to love every production, as I'd much rather see good-to- great, if not transcendent theatre, than fair-to-poor, or worse. Seems you might have a bit of a preconceived notion yourself, but about critics. Contrary to popular belief, blood runs in our veins. Nothing like a pot stirred. Humph, sorry if I my cultural memory is short but, I have to admit, at 54, it’s probably not just my cultural memory. Actually, it’s not a question of cultural memory. It’s a question of omnipresence. I can’t be everywhere at once. I’m in Sydney. I can’t cover or be across everything in Sydney, let alone south of the border.Thankyou for your information. I did qualify with ‘to the best of my knowledge’, as I recall. Due humility, I would’ve thought.

Thanks for your contributions, Jay, Steve and Puss. Seems I’m not sitting out on this limb completely alone.

Nick, not that I expect you to believe it, of course, but nothing could be further than the truth. I REALLY wanted to love this production. I’d been looking forward to it with bated breath. Truth is, I really want to love every production, as I’d much rather see good-to- great, if not transcendent theatre, than fair-to-poor, or worse. Seems you might have a bit of a preconceived notion yourself, but about critics. Contrary to popular belief, blood runs in our veins.

]]> Comment on REVIEW: The Maids | Sydney Theatre by Nick Shimmin http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/06/13/review-the-maids-stc-sydney/comment-page-1/#comment-1505 Nick Shimmin Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:34:49 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=3521#comment-1505 this really does read like Llod had made up his mind before he even stepped into the theatre and spent the entire performance making mental notes of what he would criticise. tall poppy syndrome, anyone? nothing flatters the insecure critic as much as picking holes in a successful piece of theatre. but it's rather strange to qualify almost every gripe, and then admit you don't know much about Genet (of course it's been produced with men in the lead roles) this really does read like Llod had made up his mind before he even stepped into the theatre and spent the entire performance making mental notes of what he would criticise. tall poppy syndrome, anyone? nothing flatters the insecure critic as much as picking holes in a successful piece of theatre. but it’s rather strange to qualify almost every gripe, and then admit you don’t know much about Genet (of course it’s been produced with men in the lead roles)

]]> Comment on REVIEW: The Maids | Sydney Theatre by Pusscat http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/06/13/review-the-maids-stc-sydney/comment-page-1/#comment-1504 Pusscat Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:57:35 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=3521#comment-1504 LBS,thanks for an interesting review.I feel much better now about missing out on a ticket, and, for me, the playwright's name on that tent would have been the deal-clincher, though I agree with you about Blanchett's excellence. Thanks too for mentioning that my pitiful taxes are funding an organisation with hiring practices about as transparent as a muslin tablecloth. Often wonder if something of the same sort occasioally happens in classical music. LBS,thanks for an interesting review.I feel much better now about missing out on a ticket, and, for me, the playwright’s name on that tent would have been the deal-clincher, though I agree with you about Blanchett’s excellence.
Thanks too for mentioning that my pitiful taxes are funding an organisation with hiring practices about as transparent as a muslin tablecloth. Often wonder if something of the same sort occasioally happens in classical music.

]]> Comment on REVIEW: The Maids | Sydney Theatre by Steve Kemp http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/06/13/review-the-maids-stc-sydney/comment-page-1/#comment-1503 Steve Kemp Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:17:49 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=3521#comment-1503 What a brilliant review, it sums up my own feelings about the whole exercise. I left wondering what the point of the play was, it had been a draining experience. We went because of the cast and left wishing we had stayed in the bar at the end of the wharf where we had started the evening. How bad was it? I wished I had stayed home and watched the rugby league. What a brilliant review, it sums up my own feelings about the whole exercise. I left wondering what the point of the play was, it had been a draining experience. We went because of the cast and left wishing we had stayed in the bar at the end of the wharf where we had started the evening. How bad was it? I wished I had stayed home and watched the rugby league.

]]> Comment on REVIEW: The Maids | Sydney Theatre by Jay Rayme http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/06/13/review-the-maids-stc-sydney/comment-page-1/#comment-1502 Jay Rayme Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:21:19 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=3521#comment-1502 I understand why there is no interval. Half the audience wouldn't return. I understand why there is no interval. Half the audience wouldn’t return.

]]> Comment on REVIEW: The Maids | Sydney Theatre by Humphrey Bower http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/06/13/review-the-maids-stc-sydney/comment-page-1/#comment-1501 Humphrey Bower Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:45:19 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=3521#comment-1501 Dear Lloyd, as so often in theatre criticism your cultural memory is short and geography provincial. I humbly refer you to a memorable all-male production at Anthill in Melbourne in I think the late 80s or early 90s directed by Suzanne Chaundy and featuring Jacek Koman and Ian Scott as the maids with Ross Williams as Madame which thoroughly revelled in Genet's exploration of gender as performance (as opposed to Andrews' apparent, consistent and equally valid focus on class). Best wishes, Humphrey Bower Dear Lloyd, as so often in theatre criticism your cultural memory is short and geography provincial. I humbly refer you to a memorable all-male production at Anthill in Melbourne in I think the late 80s or early 90s directed by Suzanne Chaundy and featuring Jacek Koman and Ian Scott as the maids with Ross Williams as Madame which thoroughly revelled in Genet’s exploration of gender as performance (as opposed to Andrews’ apparent, consistent and equally valid focus on class). Best wishes, Humphrey Bower

]]> Comment on REVIEW: The Maids | Sydney Theatre by Graeme Dodd http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/06/13/review-the-maids-stc-sydney/comment-page-1/#comment-1500 Graeme Dodd Thu, 13 Jun 2013 07:12:48 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=3521#comment-1500 Three excellent talents on stage here, however there is not a lot of joy siting in fact trapped (no interval) through this 'one themed' ramble of nearly two hours of whinging, moaning animosity towards each other in the predicament of their lives they think they can only escape through murder. There is no variation from this one boring ground to death theme. Lots of us will rush to see the wonderful Blanchett in anything she does, but the packed audience this day seemed pretty flat at the end, albeit plenty of sitting ovation. Was glad to escape even into the rain ! Three excellent talents on stage here, however there is not a lot of joy siting in fact trapped (no interval) through this ‘one themed’ ramble of nearly two hours of whinging, moaning animosity towards each other in the predicament of their lives they think they can only escape through murder.
There is no variation from this one boring ground to death theme.
Lots of us will rush to see the wonderful Blanchett in anything she does, but the packed audience this day seemed pretty flat at the end, albeit plenty of sitting ovation.
Was glad to escape even into the rain !

]]> Comment on REVIEW: A Number | The Theatre Husk, Melbourne by A Number | Winterfall Theatre http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2011/08/31/review-a-number-the-theatre-husk-melbourne/comment-page-1/#comment-1499 A Number | Winterfall Theatre Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:37:35 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/?p=1731#comment-1499 [...] Read full review on Crikey “Curtain Call” here [...]

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