Reviewing people you know
Tue, 27 Nov 2007, 12:04 pmDazzaB30 posts in thread
Reviewing people you know
Tue, 27 Nov 2007, 12:04 pmHey Everyone,
I've got a question that I would like some opinions on. I have recently written a review of a show that I saw. Quite a few of my friends were in the show and my review has been questioned because I know some of the people involved. (My review is located in this thread if you want to read it - http://www.theatre.asn.au/theatre_reviews/paris ) My situation however is that I live in a relatively small community and therefore I know quite a few of the people invovled in theatre around here. As such, it's difficult for me to find a show in this area that doesn't have at least a couple people that I know in it.
My question is then this: Is a person incapable of writing a balanced, un-biassed, constructive review of a show that involves one or more of that person's friends?
I personally don't think this is the case. Quite often my friends ask me for my opinion because they know I will tell them honestly. I do hold to a philosphy that there is no point in being mean when giving feedback - all that does is shatter confidence. BUT I will always be honest, and if this means telling someone (including friends) that I didn't think some work they did was good, I will, however I will focus on how to improve that aspect as opposed to just saying it was bad. Is that biassed? I personally don't think so, but I would love to hear what other people have to say on the matter.
Hoping to get lots of feedback
Darren
Balanced Reviews
Tue, 27 Nov 2007, 05:10 pmI write my own personal reviews of shows that I view as an audience member. I write them for my own personal benefit but also because I know that when I do a show I like to get some sort of feedback on my performance.
The Perth theatre community is fairly small and no doubt I will see a show and recognise names and faces but I don't believe this makes me bias or unbias when it comes to writing reviews, comments and critisicms.
If you flick through some of the reviews I posted on this site I have managed to start some controversial threads and some that simply dragged on for ridiculous amounts of time.
I do agree with Na that there are ways of wording reviews so they sound less like an attack on an individual and more like a helpful criticism.
I find the trick to writing reviews that don't come across as bias is having a balance. No show is perfect and there is always going to be something you dislike in a show and something you absoilutely love. Mention both but do it politically speaking - chose your words wisely.
Meh my 2 cents worth.
~ Tari
The Writer is a child forever listening at the keyhole of the adult world.