When is a Bad Review a Good Review?

[ellenkushner]

Hilariously weird new KlezNut review up on Show Business Weekly: the reviewer & the entire audience clearly loved the show, but she lambastes it (right at the top, too, so we know she was not seduced by the dancing & the story, no, not she!) for being too "over-thought in a very public-radio way."

Actual content is a crime in children's theatre - who knew? Maybe she just needed a nap.

Comments

[csecooney.livejournal.com]

That's a WONDERFUL review. Why am I not in New York! I'd be crawling over the audience's laps with the best of 'em. Wallop my fellow infants with my "rattle and my woolly penguin."

[coffeeem.livejournal.com]

Dude, that's a really good review. Enough with the kibbitzing and have a nice celebratory cup of tea, already! (Man, I wish I could see the show--what fun!)

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

Ohh, thank you for linking that. The combination of enthusiastic recommendation and terrified NPR-cooties disclaimer is possibly the funniest thing I've seen in weeks.

It is a rave review, too. She loved it, she's telling her readers to bring the kids, and she's even making sure to address readers who are as afraid of NPR cooties as she is -- which I suspect may actually make it a better and more useful piece of publicity than if she had had only positive things to say about NPR and all its works.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Kibitzing is something you do with friends - sometimes over a cup of tea, sometimes online, I guess . . . thanks for being one of mine! Have a lovely cactus-y holiday with lots of treats.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, why aren't you in NYC? We must make this happen this year. Meanwhile, have a lovely holiday!

[csecooney.livejournal.com]

Sank you, dahlink. Yes, I think I must make a mad dash. Maybe after/before Readercon this year... HMMMMMNNNN.

!!!

I hope your holidays are full of interesting awesomeness, and lots of affection and song.

[beth-bernobich.livejournal.com]

The reviewer clearly loved it and is afraid to be too exuberant at first.

But oh, I am stealing the phrase "Maybe she just needed a nap" for whenever I get a bad review. It explains so much! *g*