March 2012
Well, having deleted all content and re-installed it manually one file at a time, there was a danger that The Good Review might have called it a day, but oh no! Like the proverbial phoenix from proverbial flames we rise again and with the addition of a new star system (explained later), a search panel and an Old Reviews section – making it easier to access older posts, some could argue we’re better than we were before ‘Deletegate’.
So stars are in? In a word yes, though I deplore the idea of rating your evening and find it nigh on impossible to quantify what percentage of a good night has been had, I realise the importance that the simple inclusion of 5 astronomical objects can have on a production. ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ – the star rating system is the quick and lazy review. They are the there so that people don’t have to read, but if others have them there and we don’t, far from making the statement I spent the first year convincing myself that we’re making, in fact our inclusion on posters, our reach and our credibility is affected. This is a small step which I hope can make a big difference. But if the blessed day arrives when people put aside this ridiculous quantification we will be there supporting the progress. Perhaps hypocritically therefore we embrace the change and will keep you abreast of the changes!
What’s New This Month?
Since our last newsletter we have seen some really exciting productions and met some wonderful people. The Soho Theatre played host to Audience and Blind Summit’s The Table both enjoyed by Christina Folkard who also went to see the West End opening of Sweeney Todd starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton at the Adelphi Theatre. Alison Staples attended The Royal Exchange to see their new production of The Gatekeeper and Little Angel’s touring production of Goldilocks she also headed to the cinema to see The Iron Lady. The Faction Theatre Company produced three rep style productions at the New Diorama Theatre and Vera Litvin attended two of them, Twelfth Night and Miss Julie and Vera also got along to the opening night of Muswell Hill at the Richmond Orange Tree Theatre. Erica Harris managed to get to three productions as well: The RSC’s Taming of the Shrew, and two trips to Leicester Curve to see The Laramie Project and Gypsy. We have also published two new interviews one with Martin Milnes who is set to direct the first revival of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Grand Duke at the Finborough Theatre in April this year, and James Webber who has wonderfully managed to crowd fund his latest short film which we look forward to seeing in the near future, I would say that this is probably my favourite article of the last few months, but that would be a bit self serving so I should point you in the direction of The Table which I wowed audiences in Edinburgh last year and sounds superb.