by Linus Spiller

Created on: April 16, 2009

During the past three weeks I have been publishing a flurry of theater reviews, thanks to the DFW Fringe Festival hosted by the Dallas Hub Theater in the Deep Ellum area, east of downtown Dallas.

The overwhelming majority of these reviews have been favorable. In fact, I have received a number of emails asking "every review you write is good, how can that be possible?"

I have responded matter-of-factly "that's because I have not seen a bad show in this fringe festival. Not one."

That statement is grounded in my background in theater, which spans over 20 years and includes work as a playwright, producer, artistic director, director, actor, singer, and behind the scenes tech work.

The productions I have been affiliated in the above capacities includes dramas, comedies, musicals, experimental pieces, faith-based and inspirational themed, satires, parodies, and sometimes a hybrid of two or more of these genres (i.e., dramedy - - drama and comedy blend).

In evaluating a production, i.e., generating a review (sometimes called a critique), there are objective and subjective elements or parts that make up the analysis (or should). These elements or parts when combined by a reviewer equal the sum total and produces an opinion of the presented theatrical work.

As a theater professional, I can be annoyingly anal about the production values associated with a show. These are the objective parts and are represented by the technical aspects of a show.

I break the technical aspects up into Tech 1 and Tech 2. In Tech 1, I look for:

1. What type of stage is being utilized (proscenium, thrust, arena? Does it drive the story or hinder its staging?

2. How did the set look?

3. Did the set design work with or against the action in the play?

4. Was the staging area maximized or under-utilized?

5. Were non-mainstage areas utilized during the production (i.e., a cast member seated in the audience and then joining the rest of the ensemble)? NOTE: this is not a necessary element and depending on how it's used, can work with or against the presentation.

6. How is/was lighting used? How is/was sound used?

7. Did either enhance or detract from the production?

Tech 2 is typically focused on the action of the actors on stage per the direction of the director. Those elements include:

1. Were the actors blocked effectively or did their stage actions resemble the childhood game Rock-em Sock-em Robots or a WWE wrestling match?

2. Did the actors deliver their lines clearly?

3. If foreign accents are used, were they

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