A theater critic analyzes given works of drama. Most often, this analysis is in written form and appears in print or digital media. In addition to providing literary interpretation, the writings of a theater critic help raise general awareness about theater among readers.

It is described that criticism is not merely an act of judgment; it is a disinterested, judgment- free effort. Further, the threefold function of the critic is described which is to learn the things, spread the noble ideas and then to create an atmosphere favorable for creative genius.

Literary critics determine the historical accuracy of a work and its historical worth. C. Literary critics determine author validity and writing accuracy.

Be objective, fair, and sincere. Evaluate the entire production. Be constructive. Indicate good points along with those you felt needed improvement.

a journalist who writes critiques of plays, or who talks about the theatre on radio or television.

How to Write a Play Critique

1. Movie vs. Play.
2. Gather some information about the author. Authors usually write in one and the same style, and very often they focus their efforts repeatedly on the same topic.
3. Present the plot.
4. Present the characters.
5. Interpret the play.
6. Describe your remarks.
7. Write what you like in the play.

Write a rough draft of the review right after you have seen the production.

1. Describe what you saw in detail and make the reader see what you see. Be specific and thorough in your descriptions.
2. Analyze what you think the director or designer was trying to achieve.
3. Judge how effective the play was as a whole.

A critique is a formal, written discussion of a performance of a play or musical. The evaluation should contain five paragraphs.

What was attempted? How fully was it accomplished? How valuable was the experience?

Were the actors convincing in their roles? Did you believe them? Did they move you? Evaluate actors individually as to what you liked or did not like about their performance.

Top Two Most Visited – Goethe’s Three Questions

• What was the artist trying to do?
• How well did he do it?
• Was it worth the doing?

When you critique acting, listen to those that are seemingly natural, and then turn your attention to those who do not seem genuine. Try to notice what it is they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. This can be anything from volume to their level of intensity throughout the show. Watch for characterization.

Analyzing Acting Performance

1. Describe the physical characteristics of the actor: height, weight, body type, age, ethnicity, nationality, speaking style (including native language and accent), etc.
2. Describe what the actor has done to change and/or mold his/her own physical, facial, vocal characteristics for this performance.

Very well acted. Powerful stuff! Very well acted. Very good show – very well done, very gripping performance.

Lena Olin: “To be a good actor, you have to be very smart. But to be a great actor, you also have to have a streak of, ‘I’m an idiot, a complete lunatic. ‘” Nicolas Cage: “To be a good actor you have to be something like a criminal, to be willing to break the rules to strive for something new.”