STEVE DUNKELBERGER: THOUGHTS ON COMMUNITY THEATER >>>

Like all journalists these days, we here at the Weekly Volcano are branching further into the Blogosphere. I thought I would start off my contribution to this effort by asking folks to comment on what they look for in community theater and how they determine if a show is "good enough to see."

People ask me that question a lot, and it's a bit more difficult to answer than what it might seem, since I realize the sort of theater I like is different from that of other theatergoers. I, for example, have likely seen more shows during the last decade or so I've been writing about theater than most  other theatergoers in the South Sound. I can't count the number of times I have seen the same Agatha Christie play staged over the years. But that is a post for a different time.

Anyway, I review a show on sort of a sliding scale based on the theater's previous works and the talent pool from which it draws its actors. Harlequin, Tacoma Musical Playhouse and Capital Playhouse have a higher threshold for me since they have long track records of doing good work. Centerstage and Lakewood are entering those ranks as well. They get judged, in my mind, on a tougher scale than say Tacoma Little Theatre, which is going through some transitions right now. I'll cut David Duvall some slack this year as he presents his vision of the theater's role in the community.

That is not to say I grant anyone any favors. I own the readers who pay for their tickets my thoughts on where they should spend their entertainment dollars. Theater tickets are not cheap these days.   I'll say if a show sucks if I think it sucks. I'll just explain more why a show blew as advice to the theater on how to not make the same mistakes again.

Is that fair?