Believe it or not, most theater critics take their seats before curtain desperately wanting to enjoy what they are about to see. As a species, reviewers are no more jealous or resentful than the people sitting next to them. There are differences between reviewers and theatergoers, of course — we critics don’t pay for our tickets and we’re not likely to have friends in the cast. This immediately eliminates two natural impulses to like a play. On the other hand, we live for the opportunity of discovering the next Joe Orton or Suzan-Lori Parks, which is why, when a critic likes... More >>>