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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-06-03, Page 8• Page b Tunes -Advocate, June 3, 1992 COMMIIN 14 ttt'r•. to Fciitti, Hard work should be applauded Dear NU'. Harte: After reading your article (it does not meet the criteria of a re- view) about South Huron's recent musical preduction, "Magic Moon", I had to ask myself what would motivate you to feel so compelled to hurt so many young people. • It is obvious that you know nothing about theatre, especially musical theatre, and yet, with your lack of qualifications, you still felt confident in destroying the egos of so many. Why? To. sell more newspapers? To be a theatre critic, and to be respected, requires some back- ground in the field and careful ex- ecutions of your work. A cardinal rule of any critic is not to try and be-wiuy-or-sarcastic, but -tostateas. factually as you can, what you saw and how you felt about it. "Bal- ance" is also something a good re- viewer strives for. Your wit and sarcasm are unac- ceptable. Your nc- gatisnl was certain- ly not balanced by any mention of all the exceptional- ly good things that happened in this production. 1 know that you were fully aware of the controversy you were creat- ing before you published this arti- cle. I again must ask myself, what you hoped to gain from all of this. There were many people in- volved directly and indirectly with this production ... people that form this community. You and your arti- cle, and the Exeter Timeg Advo- cate, and Eedy Publications, have -.done a disservice to many. in this community by 'discouraging future endeavours of this kind without young people! a Hard work and dedication snotild be applauded, not ignored! Talent should be recognized, not lost in critisism .Exceptional, outstanding occurrences should be bragged about, not dealt with indiffetence. And Pride should not be tampered with by those with a total lack of understanding. With what little knowledge 1 have, with only fifteen years in the professional theatre business be- hind me, I want all of those in- volved to know, that I was thor- oughly entertained, surprised by the calibre of talent, impressed by the musk and choreography, thought the voices were excellent, the set very well done and interest- ing, and 1 could go on... Congratu- lations en an excellent perfor- mance. Upset with review Dear Mr. Harte: How ir. the world could you have the gall to be $,Q critical of a high school production, when you didn't have the decency to stay past intermission? To compare a first-time, original musical to one like "Fame" is ridiculous and naive. It's like us comparing the Times Advocate to the Toronto Star - - we wouldn't begin to do it! Maybe after "Magic Moon" has had the benefit of the number of performances that "Fame" has, it might reach YOUR somewhat lofty expectations. We thought that the Mozart me- rtiIcl1n was quite representative of gn ern when men heal all the rights and the women very few. Often in theatre those kinds of subtleties are used to set the mood. Guess Dear Editor: As part of the cast of South Hu- ron's High School production of Magic Moon, I am not pleased with your opinions regarding the play itself, which you did not total view on Wednesday evening. I do not begrudge you the right to ex- press /your feelings towards the play, but all you gave the public were .your critical points about it. If you would not have viewed the performance with a critical eye you would have seen the hard work and effort put into it by stu- dents and teachers. I find it unfair to be compared to other years big stage productions. Knowing that it was a home grown script written by the school's librarian, Mr. Mountford himself (who I find did an excellent job of it), you still gave no credit to the di- rectors, cast and crew for their per- formance they gave the public. 1 you missed that!... And, also, to "burst into song" is a cqmmon oc- currence in a theatrical production, especially in musicals! ... And finding anything obscene I in the 'fairy tale' presented indicates to us your mindset! Also, how could you "doubt" that "Magic Moon" failed to reach the intensity you spoke of if you didn't even bother to watch even the sec- ond act. The show picked up im- mensely even for opening night as the performers gathered confi- dence. But of course, again, you were not there, were you? We believe that probably of para- mount importance to us is how you could attempt to destroy something Fair review? As pan of the east 1 know the had work, time and effort contrib- uted towards the play by the stu- dents - involved, and Craig Re- dick who devoted his time to produce , and perfumed the majority of the songs in the play. I find it very discouraging to end the production with a review with total criticism. In yenrs 10 come 1 hope you ac- knowledge just how much labour it takes to carry out a higb school play, and will give a review with equal good points and bad which you did not seem to do with Magic Moon. If only you would have let the public know the good points to Magic Moon, which there were many, then I would be able to con- sider your review as being fair. I please ask of you to give some Now carries a Classic Reflections Greetings including Astrology Cards incerely Lynn Alderdice that so many good, young people strove so long and hard to produce. These kids worked countless hours towards a very positive goal and should be commended for it. They took something brand new and CREATED, not copied, some su- perb choreography, acting, singing, and music. We thoroughly enjoyed the acting, were amazed by the dance numbers, and totally enjoyed the music. The sot, costumes and technical work was all extremely well executed: For those young performers who were involved, many for the very first time, and to the crow, we have nothing but the utmost respect and praise. BRAVO! Sincerely Robert D. Redick Zurich, Ontario kind of acknowledgement of my opinion towards your review. Yours truly, Kelly Hoffman Student/cast of Magic Moon Reader disturbed by review Dear Editor: 1 am a very concerned student from South Huron District High School writing with regard to the reviews on the high school pro- duction "Magic Moon". I am very disturbed by the manner which the journalist used in critiquing this performance. I was not part of the production this year but I was ex- asperated over the run down that Mr. Mountford, the directors, and all the cast end,firew received after spending over four months work- ing very hard on this production. So much effort and hard work went into the play that receiving such an unhllr and untruthful judgement has left a lot of people infuriated. I attended three of the perfor- mances because 1 was so Im- pressed with the ability, skills and potential of the _ whole perfor- mance put out by the oast, direc- tors, author and technical Over the past year I have been actively involved In the drama course provided in the school and one of the first things we learned was how to critique a perfor- mance. 1 would like to share with you a couple of the most important rules in critiquing a performance. First of all, you never critique a performance by comparing it to an- other production because each pres- entation is unique and should b:, evaluated with that uniqueness in mind. Secondly, never should any- one cut up a performance. If you did not like the performance, sug- gestions are always welcome but the negative comments are to be kept to yourself! 1 have talked to many of the cast members and have felt and seen their pain. They came out of each performance with such a positive and enthusiastic attitude and now have to face the cilrtirtnmi- ty reading such a negative write up on what they thought was a suc- cess: This was not the Stratford Festival or Huron Country Play- house (even they do not deserve this harsh treatment). This was a student production and 1 believe that the students involved reached for unexpected limits. How many student productions have you seen where the majority of the sons were composed, arranged and wnt- ten by a student? How many pro- ductions have been choreographed with such detail by students? How many high schools are privileged to have such respected and well known teachers within their school produce such a worthy and novel play to perform? I have read many articles by this journalist and have enjoyed them but I suggest next time he critiques a performance he should see the whole •performance and not just part of the first act. A lot of his questions may have been answered if he had seen the well done pro- duction. Negative review Dear Editor: I am writing to you in response to the play review Mr. Harte wrote on in concerns to South Huron - District High School's recent pro- ductign entitled "Magic Moon." I believe that his negative review was not only uncalled for, but lacked the talent of a 'real' theatre critic. The whole review was pri- marily about the script, while throwing in jabs aimed at Mr. Harte's victims of the day. The review printed was careless and amateurish, for an editor of a newspaper. It lacked proper in- sight. Mr. Harte's review confined his observation to the script and didn't expand enough on the pres- entation: Areas such as technologi- cal aspects, acting of the town council and leads, the music and dancers needed comment in order to make this review complete. Just one line blurbs do not make it when reviewing an entire play. I suggest, Mr. Harte, that if you had stayed for the entire play and just not for the fust act, then your review would have been valid. But since you did not, your review is a dis- grace to the Times -Advocate and I question your creden- tials us a theatre critic alio as a writer. My review would be more val- id than yours. 1 have starred in several QPlat 1' .IL +14 (11 // ff4,„ t.1 cA C \ ` l• Michelle D. Ducharme A concerned student, S.H.D.H.S. main stage productions along with Magic Moon for the past five years on a both professional and ama- teurish level across the province. I must say that Magic Moon ranks in the top ten of my performances. Till next time, Robert Mizr.i. Louise s'Unique Interiors Loulae Memer Invites you to an Open House at her home at RR 3 Zurich See the latest to cleconattrg ideas featuring %MOW. ung, Stencilling & Glazing join us for free coffee ed door -rises JUNE 13 tit: 14 12-4 p.m. & 7-9 p.m. OP 236-4214 When you buy Canadian, there's a In jobs and a stronger economy. EVERY TIME YOU GO SHOPPING, YOU'VE GOT CHOICES TO MAKE AND DECISIONS TO REACH.4 CERTAINLY, YOU SHOULD COMPARE PRICE AND QUALITY. THEN, eaKE A MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT CANADA.* BECAUSE WHEN YOU BUY A CANADIAN -MADE PRODUCT OR SERVICE, OR SHOP IN A CANADIAN STORE... THERE'S A PAYBACK.' IN CANADIAN JOBS AND A STRONGER ECONOMY. 4 CANADA. BUY INTO IT. 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