A Guide to Writing Theater Reviews

As the cliche states: "Everyone's a critic." Critics review what they experience and offer praises or criticisms on what they see.Live theater lives off the opinions of critics. Whether they are critics writing for the press or critics who are regular members of the audience stating their opinions via word of mouth, the opinions of critics tell others if the theater performance is worth watching. No matter the opinion of the performance, here are ten tidbits to include in a theater review so readers and listeners can better understand the performance in question.

1: The Event
What is playing? You need to tell people the title of the theater performance that you are reviewing. This is the basics of the basics and without it, the entire review is moot. While you're at it, please specify whether the performance in question is a play, musical, or miscellaneous form of live theater. A synopsis and/or basic plot of the performance is helpful in educating people unaware of the particular theater piece. Then they can decide if this performance is within their interests.

2: The Venue
You may have just seen the greatest theater performance in the history of theater and you've written your rave review about it. But if you forget the tiny detail of WHERE this theatrical treasure is, who else is going to know where to see it? Provide an address of the performance's location and describe the venue. How much seating is there and how comfortable are the seats? Is there orchestra seating, balcony seating, and mezzanine seating or is it just a floor with chairs? Where is parking available and how much will it cost? Is it handicap accessible? To help push the theater performance as a good date, include nearby restaurants to visit before or after the show and state what kind of refreshments are available in the theater. One more thing to note is where the actors will exit the theater to sign autographs. I know several theater buffs who scout these locations and camp out there after the performance just to get a glimpse and photograph of their favorite stars. And of course, how much are tickets to this piece of theater?

3: The Director
Though you most likely won't see this person during the performance, a quick biography of the director will contribute to your theater review. One good marketing trick to promote Hollywood movies is to proudly announce the director of the film, especially if the director's name is Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan. The same trick can be used in theater. If the director is a big name in the theatrical community, he/she will add credibility to the production. And if the director is new, please note that.

4: The Cast
The cast of actors and actresses are the bread and butter of the live theater. These are the ones people will see on the stage. So if there is anything to note about them, do so. Are there Hollywood acting celebrities flexing their acting muscles live on stage? If so, they will be a big draw to the theater. Any well-noted theater actors should be noted as well. If the cast is a local community group, highlighting the local flavor is needed to appeal to the locale.

5: The Stage
The stage will be the first thing audiences will see as the performance begins and it will also be what the audience will see the most of during the performance. The stage will provide the proper ambiance and atmosphere of the performance. It'll do the performance no good if Ikea furniture is used in a play set in Victorian-era England. Is the stage properly decorated to provide a feel of the setting that the performance is set in? Did the set designers make an effort in the backdrops? Do scene changes flow smoothly? If the stage is set for a minimalist setting, does it work for that production? Are there extra features used to take advantage of the stage, like a giant prop chandelier safely falling down on the orchestra section? If so, please note so.

6: The Costumes
Costumes are another means of setting the right atmosphere in the performance. How well did the costume designers do in their work? Is it easy to differentiate characters based on the clothes they wear? Are there any spectacular costumes to note on stage when the performance calls for them?

7: The Acoustics
Unless the theatrical performance is that of a mime troupe, you'll want to be able to hear the actors talking, the singers singing, and the music playing. I've seen many good works of theater ruined by acoustics problems ranging from being unable to hear to hearing too much echo. So hopefully the microphones (if applicable) are working properly.

8: The Pacing & Mood
Does the performance's pace fit the mood? If it's a fast paced thriller, you should not have to check your watch to see if they finished their inner monologues. If it's a slow character driven piece, the chases should not distract from the character development. The music and actors need to properly work with the director to set up the right mood and working through the script at a proper pace.

9: The Performance
This is the easiest thing to review: how well did the actors perform? Were the funny when they were supposed to be and dramatic during dramatic elements? Do the actors enunciate their lines far enough for the back row to hear? If they sing, do they sing well? Do they move well and take advantage of the stage space? I don't want to ask if the actors act well because if you say they act well, it implies that you knew they were acting throughout the performance. I prefer to ask whether I was convinced that the people on stage were the characters they represented.

10: The Enjoyment
The final thing to consider in a theater review is if you enjoyed the evening in general. Reviewing the other nine elements, did it cumulatively translate into a nice outing? Did you enjoy the performance as a whole? Would you want to go through the same outing again?

So enjoy the theater and if you like what you see, let your friends know. If you don't like what you see, let the world know.