Crucify her.
Posted by: Faith Swymer on: April 22, 2009
As anyone who’s ever written a public review knows, any negative review that is written is going to get you a lashing.
When I walked into the lobby of the Temple to check out their production of “Little Women” last Wednesday, I was excited to see how it would be portrayed — it’s a story I know very well and have loved for years. I love musical theatre (just ask my bank account) and I thought the merging of the two could produce something memorable, emotional and entertaining.
But I wasn’t impressed, I wasn’t entertained… I was pretty bored. That’s not to say the actors on stage and the crew are not incredibly talented individuals, they are. It’s very rare that I am just left totally unfilled at a production and it just happened to occur last Wednesday night.
So what do you do? As a reviewer, you have to be honest. I know not everyone shares my opinions (and believe me, I know this to be true after the hate mail I have received). It’s not to say that other theatre-goers won’t appreciate it, but I didn’t. As someone who’s seen close to 10 productions ranging from Broadway in New York City to community theatre in the last year, I think I have a bit of a gage as a theatre-goer.
One criticism I find interesting is that I’m trying to “sink the Temple” with my review. I don’t think anyone who’s written a review would ever want a theater to fail — after all, where would the majority of my stories come from? I find the accusation totally baseless since I have (very recently) written flattering previews of the theater’s fundraisers and productions, even writing positive reviews for every other production besides this one. To me, this production was the least satisfying of all the ones I’ve seen this season — and I stand by that. It’s incredibly idealistic to believe someone will love every production… and if you’re going to rank them honestly, one production would have to always fall last. I am also saddened by those who think I am trying to hurt the Temple’s financial situation. Not at all. It is my job to say how I honestly feel and if I sacrificed that to help out a struggling theatre, I wouldn’t be a journalist. I need to do my job. If the theater can’t stand the impact (pretty funny, since none of my positive reviews have been praised for increased ticket sales before) of a negative review, maybe they shouldn’t allow reviewers.
By writing this, I hope it provides some understanding about my article. I realize it was short (I only had 20 minutes to write it) and if I had more time, I probably would’ve worded it differently… but in the end, I stand by it. I do hope the Temple continues to put on great shows that it has in the past, especially ones like “Hamlet” and “Moonlight and Magnolias,” which were both phenomenal.
5 Responses to "Crucify her."
April 22, 2009 at 6:06 pm
No hard feelings, Kim. I agree that everyone should check out the musical for themselves and make their own opinion on it. I’m glad some people have enjoyed it, I know I have enjoyed shows that have also received other negative reviews.
As you said, I wish people would read my review and take it into consideration, but also reach out and listen to the word of mouth and not take it as the only factor into seeing a show.
I’m just hurt that people have tried to cut down my opinion, calling my boss and saying I’m unqualified to review it and thus my opinion is null. I know I won’t like everything and that I have differing tastes, but it doesn’t mean my opinion is without merit because I didn’t like a Temple show.
Thanks for reading my blog about it. 
April 22, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I’m with ya!!! I get so irritated when people attack other’s opinions (a solid reason I try to stay out of conversations about politics unless it is with someone else who perfers a great debate over an argument)!!! I am sorry that some felt it was OK to do that to you rather than just finding a way to offer up their own views! Don’t take it to heart — the world is full of people who think their opinions are the only ones that matter! How sad is that? Sad mostly for the person who’s opinion is being slammed, but also for the person doing the slamming! Look at all the great conversations they miss out on because they feel the need to turn them into arguments or attacks!
Keep up the good work, savor the constructive debates it generates, and try to not get so hurt by those who feel they need to attack you over it. Your opinion, whether we agree with it or not, is NOT wrong – there are no right or wrong opinions – just different ones!
By the way – I, for one, will miss your articles in the Herald. Good luck in your upcoming travels and Law School. I’ll look forward to reading all about it in your blog! Have fun – the alternative takes up way too much precious energy!
May 4, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I did write a letter to the editor, but it was not in the spirit of “crucify her” but in the spirit of presenting a differing view. I don’t know if you read it or not, Faith, but if you did I hope you realized that I was in no way challenging your right to respond as you did or attacking your integrity. We had already communicated about it and I knew you’d provided a necessarily hasty review. I do think it was the headlines and not the brief article itself to which the readers whose actions you describe would have responded in such an unnecessarily vicious way. Please don’t allow this episode to leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Your writing has been wonderful and we will miss your articles in the HERALD.
May 4, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Thanks, Reinette. Haven’t read the letters to the editor, and in no way would I ever tell anyone to not express their opposing view. It was a bit of a sad note to leave on, but it hasn’t led me to discard my experience at the Herald or Sanford at large by any means.
April 22, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Hi, Faith – Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and if we all shared the same opinions and views it would be a very boring world!!! When one person’s opinions spark someone else to offer their opposing views, that can make for a healthy debate – the sharing of view points – it is what makes conversations interesting and even fun!! The problem comes in when someone attacks someone else’s opinions or views because they differ from their’s. That creates arguments rather than debates and life is just too short to spend our energy arguing about opinions! I wish people could share opinions without arguing with or attacking them!
That said……when I read your review on Sunday, I was surprised that you felt that way because I found it to be absolutely delightful and hoped everyone else would (I’m so sorry you didn’t). But, now after reading your post, I am equally surprised that it sounds like people thought you had ulterior motives behind your review. So you were disappointed – how does that mean you were looking for a way to single handedly destroy the Temple Theatre? It was your opinion – it just happened to differ from others. Instead of analyzing and attacking your opinion, why not just offer a variety of opinions so that others can take or leave any or all of them…..and then go judge for themselves????
My only concern when reading your review was that there may be some who only get your view and not go judge for themselves. So, that is the beauty of Letters To The Editor or blogs or other outlets. They give others a chance to offer (please, not attack) their own opinions in support of or to counter views already offered up. This helps to show those trying to decide what to do on a Friday night that some were impressed and some weren’t – then they can decide if they want to go judge for themselves!
Personally, I wish everyone would give every Temple show a try – hopefully they will like most, but I’m sure some may not end up being their cup of tea and that’s OK – it is the overall experience that matters.
Now – back to the point of my commenting on your post — Wouldn’t conversations be so much more pleasant if people would just say “Ok, I respect your opinion. Here’s my opinion, please respect it, as well”? We can discuss our opinions and still agree to disagree and stop getting all defensive and attacking of each other! Wow – what a concept!!! (But, then again, that’s just my opinion….please don’t hate me for it……ha-ha)