Don't Miss Ed - Opens Tonight

EMAILNOTICES>no> Reviews by their very nature will always be subjective.[SNIP]> The bottom line is: a review is merely an opinion. That's all> it ever can be. You can have 20 people see the same show and all walk> away with different views. So the best thing to do is ignore reviews> and wait for word of mouth. If I keep hearing something's good from> several people, then I'll know it might be worth a look.Ahhh, that's the trick though ain't it. Many people will NOT ignore the reviews. In fact, they depend on these said reviews to make their judgement for them, that's why poeple are paid to write reviews. If word of mouth alone was enough for Joe Public, then reviews would not be needed. The fact that people are more inclined to believe the words of ONE PERSON just because he writes for the paper is where the problem rests. What I feel is needed by the Paid Reviewer is more reviewing and less opinion. I read reviews in Tele Magazines and then watch the shows and my opinion of the show is very often opposite. I find it offensive when a reviewer presents an opinion - without support! and this happens very often.What we must also remember that (while it may not affect Local Theatre Productions much) a company or individual's reuptation can be elevated or smashed just on one review. When you have reviewers who call established performers "Newcomers" or "Unheards" as one past West Aust Reviewer did, then things need to be re-examined, and don't ask me the name of the reviewer, I don't remember, but I do remember the comments.Jeff "Rewind" Watkins