Nice, P. And I a Graunimom to mine.
joodles omnia yr best fandancer [fan size does not matter]
Bites VB
2008/12/8 Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]>
> Hey I am a Grauniad to my grandkids
> (so saying feeds VB)
> Patrick the peasant
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Alison Croggon
> Sent: 07 December 2008 22:37
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Playwrighting!
>
> Roger's already pointed its nickname is the Grauniad, due to its
> notorious typos. (It's Lyn Gardner, btw, and yes, she's a very fine
> critic). When I'm in the UK, I take particular pleasure in the
> newspapers. I don't buy them here any more, unless I have a review in
> and need the tearsheet. Which is rather sad, really, I used to like
> spreading them over the kitchen table and having a leisurely read with
> a coffee. But they're thin and disappointing, and I get my news online
> these days.
>
> It's particularly challenging and interesting to write about
> performance (which is really what drives me). It never feels adequate.
> In the past couple of years I've been investigating contemporary
> dance, which is even more challenging. The companies seem to like it
> and keep inviting me, and I find it incredibly stimulating. It's a bit
> like looking at visual art (no words, very good for a poet). But it
> drives you straight up against the limitations of language.
>
> xA
>
> On Sun, Dec 7, 2008 at 11:42 PM, Judy Prince
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Hi, Alison. Interesting, your saying you're 'home there' in the theatre.
> I
> > feel the same. Almost like a secular religious experience.
> > BTW, I call the Guardian 'Groan' as a ref to what many call it but I
> can't
> > remember how they spell it. Their ref comes from noticing the constant
> > misspellings in the paper itself, which seem to persist, but not
> > super-often. I love the paper. Can only contrast it, UK'ly, with The
> Times
> > and The Scotsman, both good, but not as Whole and Human as Groan,
> IMNeverHO.
> > USA papers I read regularly are NYT, and the LATimes. As to newspaper
> > theatre critiquing, I'm aware that Groan has not only MIchael Billington
> but
> > Nancy Gardner, she whose coverage, concision-with-meaning, and spot-on
> > assessments astound me! I've found, as well, one or two exceptional
> critics
> > in London's online Timeout.
> >
> > My attempts at reviewing [which at the time I thought were excellent]
> > turned out to be analyses of the play, not the production---not what
> folk
> > want when they turn to a theatre critic! ;-) My hat's off to you and
> > others who can manage Real reviews!
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Judy
> >
> > 2008/12/6 Alison Croggon <[log in to unmask]>
> >
> >> Hi Judy - theatre's one of my thangs, certainly. I feel at home there,
> >> even when I'm dodging brickbats.
> >>
> >> And yes, it is "groan"... I get very tired of the whole
> >> blogger/mainstream critic thing. I see on average about two -
> >> sometimes three - plays a week through the theatre season, which can
> >> get punishing. I guess it's also a bit different in Australia, since
> >> many theatre bloggers are also mainstream theatre critics, me
> >> included, so the question seems rather tired - I'm the Melbourne
> >> theatre reviewer for the national daily here, the Australian, another
> >> blogger, Chris Boyd, reviews for the Financial Review and the Herald
> >> Sun, another edits a local weekly arts magazine, yet another is a
> >> journalist on the Australian, etc etc. I write 400 word reviews for
> >> the Oz, and on average 1200 word reviews for the blog, and in the blog
> >> review many shows which don't get into the arts pages of the Oz. And I
> >> like blogs because, unlike print reviews, what I write is available in
> >> the archives all the time, and is easily accessible to anyone who is
> >> interested. Which probably tells you all you need to know about the
> >> difference between the two activities. I know which one is hardest
> >> work!
> >>
> >> I freelance for the Guardian blog pages now and then. It usually
> >> elicits charming comments like "why are we reading about those
> >> colonials in Orstrilia?"
> >>
> >> xA
> >>
> >> On Sun, Dec 7, 2008 at 1:55 AM, Judy Prince
> >> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >> > Alison, I'm playing 'catch-up', just read your smashing essay on
> Barry's
> >> > *Ecstasy* in your Theatre Notes:
> >> > http://theatrenotes.com/2008/08/on-ecstasy.html
> >> >
> >> > Really do feel that theatre's your 'thang', Ms A.
> >> >
> >> > As if, apparently, remembering that, I put in a last bit for you - and
> >> > others - in this yesterday's comment to Groan [Guardian] online
> article
> >> on
> >> > critics vs theatre bloggers:
> >> >
> >> > Dec 06 08, 5:23am
> >> >
> >> > Yes, indeed, definitely. May I present some further logic and then a
> >> > proposal:
> >> >
> >> > 1) Bloggers're great, fine, and likely to be as astute, professional,
> >> > thorough, backgrounded, and entertaining as paid critics----and as
> >> quixotic,
> >> > odd-focused, ill-tempered, and 'out to lunch', as paid critics, as
> well.
> >> > Blogs, yes, excellent, on the reasonable principle that more is
> better.
> >> But
> >> > blogs do not have the grabability of a major newspaper. This and other
> >> > newspapers [online or in print] draw readers in far greater numbers
> than
> >> > individual blogs can.
> >> >
> >> > 2) Most theatre critics have not been Educated Properly for their
> >> > role---which I find all the better for what they must do: see a lot of
> >> > plays, do a lot of research, grow along with the growing theatre
> >> community,
> >> > develop the long view that inevitably opens an impassioned observer to
> >> > worthy, fresh work. They don't necessarily need a uni degree in any
> >> aspect
> >> > of the theatre; they do need play-immersion out of sheer adoration for
> >> it,
> >> > and they need A Life other than theatre.
> >> >
> >> > That said, even dedicated bloggers are few who would attend 12 plays a
> >> month
> >> > for years, and for each play submit a review that's responsible,
> >> detailed,
> >> > and helpful to theatre practitioners as well as theatre-goers. We
> have,
> >> > then, the continuing need for newspaper-paid theatre critics. In fact,
> I
> >> > propose the need for MORE newspaper-paid theatre critics.
> >> >
> >> > 3) We need more because we need to have more information. We need to
> hear
> >> > the unheard gossip, be moved to visit less-familiar-to-us play venues,
> >> find
> >> > out more of the techniques of playwrighting, acting, directing,
> scene-,
> >> > costume-, lighting-, sound- and movement-design. We need to hear it
> from
> >> the
> >> > folk who actually work in those areas. Hence,
> >> >
> >> > 4) I propose Guest Critics in addition to main critics. A different
> Guest
> >> > Critic each month could be 'found' and tapped by the newspaper, or
> they
> >> > could volunteer themselves by submitting several reviews to recommend
> >> them
> >> > for the monthly spot. They could, as well, be from other countries
> >> reporting
> >> > on plays they've seen in their native lands.
> >> >
> >> > Surely this newspaper in this nation can manage enthusiastic inclusion
> in
> >> > its theatre criticism as well as in its theatres.
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Editor, Masthead: http://www.masthead.net.au
> >> Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
> >> Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com
> >>
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Editor, Masthead: http://www.masthead.net.au
> Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
> Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com
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