Friday, April 01, 2011
Theater Talkback: Too Much Information?
NYTimes.com: "The topic of our discussion today is — spoiler alert! — the careful use of spoiler alerts. For readers unfamiliar with the term, it is occasionally inserted in prose or conversation, and not infrequently in reviews of movies or plays, to indicate that a key plot point is about to be divulged that some may prefer to remain in ignorance of. It gives the reader a chance to shut down all systems rather that discover that Mary is really the long-lost sister of Rose, that a freak accident will claim the life of John just when it looks as if things might turn out all right, that in fact the whole traumatic episode was really just a dream!
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6 comments:
Isherwood definitely brings up an interesting point. I think a lot of the decision about where this "spoiler" line must be drawn has to do with the play's history. I used to write reviews for my high school's newspaper, and my rule was generally that for new plays, I would be much more cautious in how much plot I gave. If it were something like "West Side Story," my focus was on just how this director chose to tell the story, and which new conventions that production used. Since revivals are indeed new ways of telling old stories, I think more knowledge of plot can be assumed.
Tricky place to draw the line. A play is not only the narrative but also how the actors handles it, and consequently how the audience responds to the emotion leaps of the narrative. While you can have this happen regardless of the narrative (if you're watching a good production of Oedipus you should still feel your heart's strings get pulled a little.)
While I'm certainly not a theater critic the best reviews I've found how been the ones that get me to see the show without actually writing about. They eseentially handle everything that I'd find on the first two pages of the script: stage directions describing the set and lighting, and the dramatis personae.) I'd rather stay in the dark.
I am surprised that the spoiler debate has become such a recent one in theatre and film reviews. I usually am not that interested in a film review before I've seen a film outside of it's good vs. it's ok vs. it's bad. Once I've seen a film, though, I will look more deeply at the reviews, and they are always much better if the ending can be addressed. A few clear examples of this were seen last year in "Exit Through the Gift Shop" and "Catfish", both of which couldn't really be discussed without spoilers. I think more and more reviews are going to start following this formula, because the reviews become much richer.
I think that if people choose to attend a talk back they should be prepared to hear information about the production. the issue of comparison to a spoiler is is not unreasonable, but the talk back is about giving information. The directors alterations is a large factor in this equation, and it seems that if people place the priority on either one; the directors changes or the plot, that they would feel differently about this talk back.
I agree with this critic. If you are reading a review you are looking for some kind of critique of the play, you are looking to have some view point going in and generally I don't think critics will give away more info then is necessary for them to give a critique. So any information that you are getting is just necessity. If you don't want to be influenced or have any info about the show then you shouldn’t be reading reviews. I always think that it is interesting to know everything about a show going into it because then you can assess the actors, director, and designer’s choices and not have the added element of surprise. And if people are doing their job right you will still emotionally connect even if you already know the story.
This is definitely a touché subject. As a viewer I do not want to know anything before I see a production or movie. It can ruin any initial reaction you might of had. So when I read reviews I do not want to see spoilers (hints are ok). I can understand though when it is hard to review when the production revolves around a critical plot point. In these cases I think warnings about spoilers will scare off anyone that hasn't seen the production. Is that too much to ask?
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