Comments for Bitter Lemons

Comment on Retarded by Dennis Newport

Dennis Newport — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:38:46 +0000

Thanks for that. It’s truly insane. Apparently, some of the honchos at these organizations get paid to mouth off about alleged “offenses” and consider it part and parcel of why they’re paid. Perhaps you’ve heard of the “no-smoking” indoors law that is part of Chicago’s city code now — some dufus sitting in the audience of “Jersey Boys” saw one or more of the actors smoking onstage, didn’t like it, and reported it. The “Jersey Boys” couldn’t smoke anymore — at least for a time. Part of one of the ways we’ve gone batty in this country.

Comment on “Assassins” reviews by Alex

Alex — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:29:23 +0000

Your blog is interesting!

Keep up the good work!

Comment on An Invitation to the LADCC by Colin Mitchell

Colin Mitchell — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:58:17 +0000

I have had no relationship with anyone at the El Portal. Anyone help out here? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Comment on An Invitation to the LADCC by ProducerMAN68

ProducerMAN68 — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:17:59 +0000

I am new to this site I cannot find my way around as of yet.
I was navigating around trying to find information on the couple
who run the El Portal. I hear they treat everyone terrible.
Story after story after story, I hear about their wretchedness!
Does this ring a bell for anyone?

Comment on Apologies by Colin Mitchell

Colin Mitchell — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:11:59 +0000

Well his largest forum is the LA Times. So why doesn’t he use his clout then? It’s great that he’s touting small theatre in a small forum - but how is he supposed to reach the audience we want to reach if he doesn’t use his power as the main critic in LA? He needs to stop preaching to the choir and start mingling with the masses.

Comment on Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Jerk by Colin Mitchell

Colin Mitchell — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:57:38 +0000

You’re right - it was very late, Camille, as far as writing down - but I mentioned it to everyone I knew after I saw it - especially to those who’d also seen it because i wanted to really see if I was losing my mind. Especially after the award came out. And as I wrote - pretty much everyone agreed with me. And as I also said above - I am a huge fan of your company, loved most of your shows since Great Men of Science and Texarcana Waltz, but I’m not about to put my own judgment on hold when I see a truly bad piece of theatre getting accolades like that. I like the theatre in La and I want us to be appreciated as a great theatre town. This kind of travesty does not help. Satisfying? Not really my agenda. Productive? Well if it gets a conversaton going about the quality of theatre in LA - then yes. Very productive. Thanks for responding.

Oh, and we’re still working on the Rotten Tomatoes stuff. Trying to find a good programmer. Stay tuned. I think it will be a great tool for LA theatre folks.

Comment on Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Jerk by Camille Brown

Camille Brown — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:57:44 +0000

Well, as a Circle X staff member, I respect your balls in coming forward to pan our production, although I won’t pretend it doesn’t smart a bit. But like you said: it’s somewhat after-the-fact. I thought this site was going to serve a Rotten Tomatoes-like-function, and panning a show from last year doesn’t seem very productive (although I’m sure it’s satisfying).

Comment on Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Jerk by HDS Quaver, Jr

HDS Quaver, Jr — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:39:46 +0000

Colin–
FYI, this was left in response to my pan of “Pornographer”:
“Wow. A little too defensive about your own educational level, if you ask me. Sounds quite clearly like you simply didn’t “get it” and quite bitterly, too. Pornographer was a sophisticated, clever and brilliantly constructed piece of … frippery. Your description of “45 minutes of sheer boredom” seems to indicate that you didn’t have the ability to perceive exactly what was indeed happening: 45 minutes of brilliant wordplay and exquisite theatrical parody.”

Maybe YOU can explain to me what this tripe was a parody of. This person didn’t seem to want to bother (or leave an email to respond to). And it seems “brilliant wordplay” makes up for a lack of plot or point. Again: nice to see I wasn’t alone in thinking this show was a waste of time.

Comment on Apologies by cindymariejenkins

cindymariejenkins — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:29:15 +0000

Interesting, because in May I heard Charles McNulty talk at the open session of the Directors Lab West. (Sidenote - I strongly suggest Directors to apply for this opportunity: http://www.directorslabwest.com/). He was one of the most inspirational panelists of the week, and it was a very inspirational week. What I remember the most about this evening was how he encouraged us to follow our own visions and take hold of American Theatre as our own.

He also explained that he is extremely interested in the smaller theatres but as the lead L.A. Times critic, is often assigned mostly if not all of the larger theatres. However, he did encourage letters and emails to bring his attention to smaller theatre.

Regardless of how few of the smaller shows get reviewed in The Times, I firmly believe that Charles McNulty is moving towards improvement. He wants to see L.A. succeed and he wants to see us succeed as artists.

Comment on Apologies by Enci

Enci — Sat, 31 May 2008 20:40:02 +0000

I agree about the Times. They tend to give preference to the bigger theatres while the small ones are begging for attention and are struggling to get the viewers into their seats.

I wish they would be more supportive of small venues. Maybe the LA Times subscribership would even go up if they would focus on local going-ons in all of of Los Angeles, not just in the neighborhoods where the money is.