EXTRA CRITICUM

Post-Traumatic Diva Syndrome

The other night I went to see a friend's play at a small theatre in the village. Friends of mine who sit beside me at the theatre know that when I go I never read the Playbill before the performance begins. I like to be surprised. In this case, it was enough that the writer was someone I am fond of, a smart and talented person I knew would keep me on the edge of my seat for 90+ minutes. I didn't need to know who was in the show.

The lights went down. The show began. And in the second scene an actress entered. Instantly my entire body became rigid. I immediately knew her. How could I not? She is one of the few actors I've ever had to fire before. And, truthfully, she's the only actor I ever fired as a defensive measure against what can only be described as abusive and sadistic behavior in rehearsal toward her fellow actors and toward me.

Things That Never Happen Happen All the Time

Note: The play I wrote for young audiences, Fake Flowers Don't Die, is going to be performed in schools, theatres, and community centers in the Cincinnati area throughout the month of October. I was asked by the Education Director of Cincinnati-Playhouse-in-the-Park to write something about the origin of the play for those who are interested. It is written so that it can be read by anyone 10 years or older.

It started with a title. It never starts with a title for me, but if you write long enough you’ll find that things that “never” happen happen all the time. So it started with a title.

'Steps' of Rejection

I recently wrote a blog post pointing out the obvious: that any writer who has sold 450 million books has a clear marketing advantage over an unknown scribbler. I was comparing J.K. Rowling and an unknown author, Robert Galbraith, after those two writers were outed as being the one and the same (though somewhat transgendered perhaps).

Besides giving us the year’s best book publishing controversy, the incident provides a nifty case study on the power of brands, even if the brand happens to be an artist.