A Critics Bestiary
There may be as many kinds of writers about theatre as there are kinds of theatre. Here’s a handy guide.
Category Archives: Opinion
Black Bodies, White Writers
The crushing homogeneity of theatre criticism means it’s missing crucial perspectives—and its relevance to readers.
Trump-ocalypse Now?
American plunder didn’t begin with this administration. Our theatrical dissent must be grounded in a holistic critique of state violence.
Family Troubles and Hostile Takeovers in London
New plays from Jez Butterworth, James Graham, and Lucy Kirkwood throw its characters and their values into sharp relief and thrilling conflict.
How to Make Relevant Theatre in 2017: Lessons From Philly Fringe
Theatre is reflecting our world back at us. But are we feeling it?
Body, Ritual, Time: Impressions From Portland’s TBA
Over 10 days of performance art, lines between performer and audience blurred, then disappeared altogether.
Arabs and Muslims Onstage: Can We Unpack Our Baggage?
American theatres still have a habit of seeing Middle Eastern characters as embodying controversy rather than humanity.
Shylock, Remade in the Venice Ghetto
What we learned about ‘Merchant of Venice’ by staging it in the city where it was set.
Administrators Can Be Visionaries Too
Artistry isn’t the only thing that makes theatre happen. We ignore that at our peril.
He Said, He Said, She Said: A Tale of 3 Hamlets
What a piece of work is ‘Hamlet,’ as sampled in London, New York, and Colorado.
