A playwright asks: "Is it OK to write the critic a thank
you note when my show gets a positive review?" (3/03/03)
If you think the review was perceptive and well written, yes,
say so--- why ever not? Especially if the critic "saw through"
the production to the script. OTOH, if all you know of the critic's
work is this single review, tread lightly. I believe that it
is a critic's job to praise when ever and where ever praise
is possible--- but some critics believe the opposite, and if
you are effusive will begin to wonder if they went overboard.
Dealing with a new show or a production by a new company that
appears without pre-approval credentials is as scary for the
critic as it is for the producers. If a reviewer is the only
one to write about a work, a negative review is always the "safe"
review: "everybody" agrees. A lone positive review is always
somewhat suspect. A local reviewer was taken to task for saying
that the lead in a community theatre production of "My Fair
Lady" was better than the star of the national tour. The big
paper's reviewer, the late Arthur Friedman, called her a "gusher"
and confidently dismissed the praise as "preposterous"--- though
(of course) he hadn't seen the community show! He dismissed
other raves as "delirium tremens" or implied that the reviewer
must have been romantically involved with the talent in question.
So, in a sense, this reviewer put his own reputation on the
line when he praised you. Should you have written a thank you?
No. You are not required or even expected to be grateful when
someone stands up and tells the truth, especially if that's
their job. But is it ok? Sure! Gratitude is never inappropriate.
(This goes for the rest of life, too.)
by 
