Dueling opinions from critics over when to say ‘enough’ – UPDATE

Dueling opinions from critics over when to say ‘enough’ – UPDATE

New York Times critic Charles Isherwood published a column on Oct. 7 saying, in effect that he didn’t want to be in a position to review anymore works by playwright Adam Rapp.

“Adam Rapp won’t have me to kick around anymore,” Isherwood began. “Oops. I think I got that backwards. I mean I won’t have Adam Rapp to kick around anymore.”

You can read his column here.

Michael Billington of The Guardian took note and offered his own opposing view.

“I think it’s a mistake for a critic ever to bring the shutters down,” he write. “In so doing, one denies oneself the possibility of a change of heart.”

You can read his full response here.

As president of the Dramatists Guild, composer Stephen Schwartz (“Godspell,” “Pippin,” “Wicked”) also had a response, supporting Isherwood’s suggstion, according to a report from Broadwayworld. 

Isherwood’s column has prompted a lot of response on various websites and a report from the Poynter Institute’s Jim Romanesko, which you can read here.

Until we can develop our comments section, if any of you write about the subject, we can add links and have a discussion in that way. Please send your links to criticjay@gmail.com