When words don’t say that much

With any production I’ve had, I’ve always worried about the reviews the play will get – but it’s a delayed worry. After all, the instant worry is what are the audience going to say on the night?

We got through the instant worry without a flaw, as everyone was very complimentary about Denim – indeed I met a couple of people that are endeavouring to re-launch their club and were saying that they thought that Denim could be the very play to do it with.

But the delayed worry was published on Friday night. If you want to read the review (and see a rather gopping photo of me) then click here.

First and foremost, this isn’t a bad review. But in my opinion this isn’t a review at all. It’s a one line synopsis and a series of statements of facts – X played part Y who has the function of Z and did so well.

To me, this was a huge disappointment. I know that the review only had 150 words to play with, but this says nothing. What was the audiences reaction? How hard/close to the edge/risqué was the humour? There’s a sexual theme running through the play, so how did the audience react to such material…? Most of all, what did the reviewer think of the play?

From this review, I have no idea.

And that’s what upsets me. The cast and crew were astounding! This was the best production of Denim to date; and their reward…? That review.

They deserved more.

The reviewer does not realise what reviews do for a company (and for me, what it does for a playwright).

You are only as good as your last play. So, when advertising your next production, it is damned helpful to put up quotes of your last review. And this serves two functions: The club gets to say how good it is and the paper gets some free advertising.

But from this review, what could you quote?

Zip. Nada. Nowt. Nothing.

Sorry folks, but it left me feeling a little flat.

After all, if you’re going to put pen to paper – have something to say.