[NEohioPAL]Reviewing College Theatre

[James Kosmatka]

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(The views expressed in the following post do not necessarily represent those of Cleveland State University, the CSU Summer Repertory Theatre, or any other agents thereof.  These are my own humble musings.)
   
  As Mr. Valentine suggested, CSU Summer Rep is more of a hybrid of professional and educational theatre.  Also, this was the first professional review of a CSU production since 2004, when the Scene wrote a scathing review ("as wretched an example of theatrical malfeasance as you're likely to encounter") of our production of Shaw's Heartbreak House, in which I played.  Thoughts on that review are probably more germane to this discussion.  
   
  So...
   
  I was ambivalent about the matter.  I felt, as probably many actors do in companies that don't get press, that any publicity is good publicity.  On the other hand, it was, as one would expect, a serious blow to morale.  On the third hand, this was the kind of thing we needed to get used to.  Fourth hand: we hadn't been reviewed recently before or since so it was kind of disheartening to have the one review be one as critical as that one was.  And on the final hand, I was apparently passable enough to merit not being mentioned.
   
  What does this all mean?  I'm not entirely sure.  I remain ambivalent.  One thing I do know, though, is that getting that single, devastating review did considerable harm.  Cleveland State has seen tremendous growth in the past few years and it is a terrible shame that the only public record of these endeavors was that article.  It was the singularity of the review that bothered me most.  
   
  And that's all I have to say on the subject.  Come see BOOTH and THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM.
  http://www.csuohio.edu/theater
   
  james kosmatka
  student sound designer, dramaturg, graphic designer
  cleveland state university
  summer repertory theatre
   
  
Robert Lewis <roblewed at gmail.com> wrote:
    A few weeks ago, WCLV's broadcast included interviews with local Cleveland theatre critics.  During the broadcast, the subject of college theatre came up and most critics stated that "they do not cover college productions".  
   
  Based upon the number of reviews I've seen on the neohiopal site, covering productions at Lakeland, and CSU  (see below), I would say that the statement above is obviously not true.  Some of the best acted and directed productions I've seen in Cleveland were presented by college theatre departments and they should be frequented by the theatre-going public and the critics as much as possible.   Also, the admission price to these plays are much less expensive than their "profession" counterparts, so basically, one gets a bigger bang for your buck. 
   
  Its evident that the critics choose to review certain colleges and not others.  Why?  There could be many answers but it really comes down to the fact that Cleveland theatre is very political and like politicians, the critics say one thing, but mean another.    
   
   
   
  BOOTH by Austin Pendleton, the story within the story of the famous family made infamous by the 1865 assassination of Abraham Lincoln, opens this weekend at the CSU Repertory Theatre on East 24th Street between Chester and Payne Avenues. 
   
  Featuring stars full of "innocence and desire", directed with "unfettered glee", and a "no holds-barred performance [by Everett Quinton] that must be seen to be believed" (Plain Dealer) the show reflects "precisely the kind of bright future that the promising CSU summer project will... build on." (Free Times)


       
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<div>(The views expressed in the following post do not necessarily represent those of Cleveland State University, the CSU Summer Repertory Theatre, or any other agents thereof.  These are my own humble musings.)</div>  <div> </div>  <div>As Mr. Valentine suggested, CSU Summer Rep is more of a hybrid of professional and educational theatre.  Also, this was the first professional review of a CSU production since 2004, when the Scene wrote a scathing review ("as wretched an example of theatrical malfeasance as you're likely to encounter") of our production of Shaw's Heartbreak House, in which I played.  Thoughts on that review are probably more germane to this discussion.  </div>  <div> </div>  <div>So...</div>  <div> </div>  <div>I was ambivalent about the matter.  I felt, as probably many actors do in companies that don't get press, that any publicity is good publicity.  On the other hand, it was, as one would expect, a
 serious blow to morale.  On the third hand, this was the kind of thing we needed to get used to.  Fourth hand: we hadn't been reviewed recently before or since so it was kind of disheartening to have the one review be one as critical as that one was.  And on the final hand, I was apparently passable enough to merit not being mentioned.</div>  <div> </div>  <div>What does this all mean?  I'm not entirely sure.  I remain ambivalent.  One thing I do know, though, is that getting that single, devastating review did considerable harm.  Cleveland State has seen tremendous growth in the past few years and it is a terrible shame that the <EM>only </EM>public record of these endeavors was that article.  It was the <EM>singularity</EM> of the review that bothered me most.  </div>  <div> </div>  <div>And that's all I have to say on the subject.  Come see BOOTH and THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM.</div>  <div><A
 href="http://www.csuohio.edu/theater">http://www.csuohio.edu/theater</A></div>  <div> </div>  <div>james kosmatka</div>  <div>student sound designer, dramaturg, graphic designer</div>  <div>cleveland state university</div>  <div>summer repertory theatre</div>  <div> </div>  <div><BR><B><I>Robert Lewis <roblewed at gmail.com></I></B> wrote:</div>  <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">  <DIV>A few weeks ago, WCLV's broadcast included interviews with local Cleveland theatre critics.  During the broadcast, the subject of college theatre came up and most critics stated that "they do not cover college productions".  </DIV>  <DIV> </DIV>  <DIV>Based upon the number of reviews I've seen on the neohiopal site, covering productions at Lakeland, and CSU  (see below), I would say that the statement above is <FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:
 #ffff00">obviously </FONT>not true.  Some of the best acted and directed productions I've seen in Cleveland were presented by college theatre departments and they should be frequented by the theatre-going public and the critics as much as possible.   Also, the admission price to these plays are much less expensive than their "profession" counterparts, so basically, one gets a bigger bang for your buck. </DIV>  <DIV> </DIV>  <DIV>Its evident that the critics <STRONG>choose</STRONG> to review certain colleges and not others.  Why?  There could be many answers but it really comes down to the fact that Cleveland theatre is very political and like politicians, the critics say one thing, but mean another.    </DIV>  <DIV> </DIV>  <DIV> </DIV>  <DIV> </DIV>  <DIV>BOOTH by Austin Pendleton, the story within the story of the famous family made infamous by the 1865 assassination of
 Abraham Lincoln, opens this weekend at the CSU Repertory Theatre on East 24<SUP>th</SUP> Street between Chester and Payne Avenues. </DIV>  <DIV> </DIV>  <DIV>Featuring stars full of "innocence and desire", directed with "unfettered glee", and a "no holds-barred performance [by Everett Quinton] that must be seen to be believed"<STRONG> (Plain </STRONG><STRONG>Dealer)</STRONG> the show reflects "precisely the kind of bright future that the promising CSU summer project will... build on<STRONG>." (Free Times)</STRONG></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><p> 
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