Village Squire, 1977-11, Page 45Criticism in Canada. he says suffers
from two problems, there is either too
little, or it is not well enough informed.
While the critic is a critic of criticism, he
can also see it as having an important role
both within and without the theatre. From
the outside view a review is important for
informing people about what theatres are
doing what plays and how well they are
doing them. The critic is in effect helping
build an audience for theatre. From within,
certain respected critics such as Northrop
Frye have the influence to effect the way
theatre evolves. But in a smaller way an
ordinary critic can also influence the way
theatre is done. Obviously, Bale says. a
director who spends weeks and months
with a play can discover more about it than
a critic who spends a few preparatory
hours. then a couple of hours in the
theatre. But the critic, on the other hand.
may see something the director has
overlooked and the director who reads the
review and realized the reviewer has a
point. may change his thinking.
A review. he says, is subjective and it's
impossible to follow the normal newspaper
code of objectivity. A reviewer can be
impartial. but not unprejudiced, fair but
not unopinionated. He finds his role
toughest. he says. when he must review a
play by an author he doesn't like and thus
muss separate his personal dislike for the
subject matter from the way the director
and cast handle the play.
One of the banes of being a critic on a
morning daily newspaper is deadlines.
Ofter his review is called in from the
nearest phone booth after a show, usually
without any chance to even put it down on
paper. His training as an editor and rewrite
man make him upset at the inadequacies of
his writing under such circumstances but
he feels it is important to get the news in
immediately. If you wait a few days and the
show has closed then peopl' haven't had a
chance to learn about it at all and what is
the point of the review, he says.
Everything is a compromise.
Bale splits duties between reviewing and
writing theatre news and copy editing at
the newspaper. He enjoys both jobs, he
says and wouldn't want to give either up
except at those times when one interferes
with the other so that he feels he can't do
either well enough.
On the subject of the dearth of good
entertainment coverage in area media he
says that there will never be good coverage
until it is impressed on newspaper editors
and radio and television managers that it is
economically necessary: when people
won't buy the paper or listen to the station
unless there is improved coverage. So far
that day seems a long way off.
It's seven years and 250 plays since that
trial period at theatre criticism began for
Doug Bale in 1971. There are those who
feel that's seven years and 250 plays too
long. but there's no doubt he cares greatly
about theatre in Western Ontario and that
he has given more attention to it than any
other niedia person in the area. But
strangely, as he says with a wry smile, it is
the people who most object to criticism who
are ready to tell critics how to do their jobs.
SEA FORTH
KITCHEN CENTRE
THE FINEST IN KITCHEN
& BATH CABINETS
MAIN ST. SEAFORTH
PHONE 527-1201
•
X%Ip4
SHOP EARLY FOR A GOOD SELECTION
IN OUR CO-ORDINATING
SHOWER CURTAINS
BATH TOWELS
BATH ACCESSORIES
KITCHEN LINENS ((
NICE FOR THE HOME /,
ORASAGIFT4r /
....:. ,ir ki
11.
P4 04 f
�,; r
•
V: 10 Sr 111111
M. Nott
i4 CROWN 14
kk HARDWARE
Seaforth, Ont.
527-1420
Cffl*tmae5
See our large
selection of
on your next
visit to
SEAFORTH
NEW MODELS
NOW ON DISPLAY
Learn to play in the
store and impress
your family when
the organ is deliv-
ered. Let George
show you the easy
Color GIo method.
You'll be making
beautiful music in
30 minutes or less.
Priced from $695.00
and up.
Easy terms.
Complete Line of Color Glo
Regular Organ Music in Stock
Thomas ORGANS
A SOUND FOR EVERYONE
Closed Wednesdays, open Friday till 8 p.m.
429 Main St., Exeter 235-2522
VILLAGE SQUIRE/NOVEMBER 1977, 43.