I’m sometimes asked why so many shows reviewed at StageSceneLA get a WOW!

The reasons are fairly simple.

First and foremost, there is a lot of outstanding theater in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. A production getting a WOW! from StageSceneLA is likely to have gotten raves from at least a few other reviewers. (Visit http://bitter-lemons.com to compare print and online reviews of L.A. productions.)

Unlike most other reviewers, who are assigned shows to see, I get to pick and choose the productions I want to review.  If I had my druthers, I’d want every single one of my theatergoing experiences to be a positive one.  Some “critics” may enjoy seeing shows which offer them the chance to find fault.  Not I.  Fortunately, after having seen hundreds and hundreds of productions over the past few years, I know which theaters, companies, actors, directors, playwrights, and designers have good track records. I receive three times more invitations to review than I can accept, which allows me to turn down productions less likely to merit a rave.

Even reviewing as many as 24 productions a month (i.e. every single Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, plus weeknights when possible), I still have to turn down half a dozen or so shows I’d dearly love to see.  On the other hand, I don’t need to see shows unlikely to send me out of the theater going WOW!

Sometimes I goof and end up seeing a dud.  Last January, I saw three shows I could not even give a “Recommended” to.  Looking back, there were red flags flying that should have told me “Beware,” but pickings are slim in January and I took chances that did not pay off.

Admittedly, some great productions slip through the cracks, and I’ll think to myself, why didn’t I review that one?  (Visit http://bitter-lemons.com to see how many great shows I miss.) 

Still, I consider myself fortunate that Los Angeles theater offers me so much opportunity to see truly terrific productions, shows which I can give a WOW! to without reservations.

Theatergoing should be a WOW! of an experience, and thankfully, mine almost always is.