Should I tell my friend his play stank?

[HEyHEY]

I went to the play he wrote... and it was awful. I wanna give him honest feedback. But, I don't wanna be adick and I can't decide how much I even really care.

[MonkeyFunk]

1. tell him

the lighting was very well-done.

[pitohui]

2. never never never don't even consider it

are you a professional playwright or critic? you're not, are you

what you are is a FRIEND, be a friend and tell him what a blast it was to see a play written by someone you feel privileged to know

if the play is awful, bad production values, shitty actors, crap director, or even -- horrors! -- bad writing, there is no form of constructive criticism you can offer, because you are not in a position to make suggestions that can lead to positive change

the play will be awful whether or not you criticize your friend so there is nothing to gain by being "honest" -- and is it, really, "honest" to make your friend feel bad about the shitty play?

be supportive and lie like a dog on the rug, sometimes it's the right thing to do

[Generic Brad]

3. Please don't

It would be way better if you made comments like "I could never write anything like that in a million years" or "Where do you come up with your ideas?"

You can still be honest without hurting feelings.

[barb162]

4. No, the audiences (or lack thereof) will do that for you

[dancing kali]

5. I would say honest feedback...

but don't be nasty. A critique about what did and didn't work is appropriate. Saying that it was awful or sucked isn't.

Is the show still up and running? Where is it playing?

If you aren't doing anything tonight or tomorrow and are willing to cross the "Berlin Wall" at Boundary, there is a good contemporary dance show at the Shadbolt (Burnaby Art Centre at Deer Lake). Curtain is at 8pm and the show is only about 1 hour long. Sorry about the shameless plug but I would like to see this show get some audiences.

[pitohui]

7. what is the point of "honest feedback"? seriously?

giving "honest feedback" about the play is unnecessarily cruel if you think the play stinks, it is not like the director is going to implement changes suggested by a friend of the writer!

never give "constructive criticism" about something that can't be helped

you wouldn't tell your friend that he would look terrific if he just bought himself a new nose, would you? same thing, if it would take major effort to respond to your "feedback" it's unnecessary and cruel


you can offer "honest feedback" to a problem quickly solved, for instance, your friend asks you if you like his tie, you think it's better off, and he can whisk it off before you go out to dinner -- that's fine

but "honest feedback" on something this major, no way, never, nohow, nothing good can come of that

[dancing kali]

12. As a performer, director, playwright, etc.

I would want an honest critique. The friend of HeyHey is the playwright. Telling him/her what worked or didn't work and why isn't cruel. That is part of the learning process and something those in the arts have to get used to hearing. Coming out and saying "Your play sucked... it's the worst piece of writing I've ever encountered" wouldn't be a critique, that is just expressing an opinion, and downright mean.

Critiques in the arts are an essential part of what we do. Honest feedback, even if it's a pan lets us know what we need to work on. We have enough people doing the insincere ego boosting. I believe that HeyHey is a journalist... that implies some writing skills and knowledge. I would want his feedback on that level. As I said... there is a difference between "I think that you might want to tighten up the second scene in Act III, I had a hard time following what was happening" or "There was a little too much exposition that could have been better played then spoken" and "Boy, that really sucked."

I don't agree that the example of telling a friend that they would look better with a nose job (or whatever job). That would be a personal "attack" (for lack of a better word). A script is public. It's been performed and HeyHey's friend will be expecting some kind of feedback.

I work in the performing arts community in Vancouver... believe me, I have been to my share of shows written by friends where I had to think hard to come up with something that is constructive and not hurtful. They are all still my friends. I really do think that an honest, constructive critique is the best way to go.

I now have to get into the theatre for my show and so have to end my end of this discussion. Good night all.

[Vidar]

6. Find some little detail you can honestly compliment if possible.

[pitohui]

9. be careful

everyone's on to this, it's like the asshole who says "it's a baby, all right," everybody understands that you're damning with faint praise

if you really can't tell a good white lie, then you have bigger social problems than just this one situation, but still it's best to avoid being unnecessarily hurtful

again i'd just say how thrilled and excited i was to see a play written by someone i knew, how honored and excited i was, blah de blah

much better than "oh, they got started right on time and had a great sound system!"

[SPKrazy]

8. It Sucked

someone will tell him

do you want it to be you?

or do you want to bullshit him and let him hear it from strangers?




:shrug:



strangers

[idgiehkt]

13. yep, strangers

;)

[EFerrari]

10. Well, first (remember?) do no harm.

Second, you can frame your critique in a positive way. That doesn't mean bullshitting your friend. It just means finding a positive hook to say what you really want to say.

If you're too negative, he won't be able to hear you anyway.

Depends on how much you want to be heard. :)

[Shell Beau]

11. Maybe not it those words.

If y'all have the type of friendship in which you can be honest about that and you know he will appreciate it rather than get mad and defensive, then I say tell him in a constructive and gentle way. Also tell him the positives that you saw. But if not, just don't even bother. Avoid the subject.

[Left Is Write]

14. You don't have to say it stank, but if you have some constructive suggestions

for his writing, I would give them.

As a writer, I *want* to know when what I write doesn't work. I want to know what I can do next time to connect with the reader.

[u4ic]

15. What about it sucked?

Were there scenes or characters you didn't understand, for example?

If so, perhaps asking for clarification could be done without hurting any feelings. He may, in his own mind, understand it, but it may have not translated as well to an audience.