Theater Talk: 2015 Ultimate Broadway Critics Panel

Theater critics Ben Brantley of “The New York Times,” Peter Marks of The “Washington Post,” John Simon of the “Westchester Guardian,” and Terry Teachout of “The Wall Street Journal,” discuss “Skylight, Fun Home, Finding Neverland, The King and I, On The Twentieth Century” and “Something Rotten!”
Taped: 05-01-15

[@Hairsprayxoxoful]

John Simon seems rather unintelligent and completely unqualified to be a NY theatre critic. I'm glad I watched this, so now I can immediately discredit any review I read of his.

[@j.stephenpearson4348]

Such a great takedown of John Simon from 8:20 to 8:45. That he could say such a thing on air with no irony just shows how outdated his criticism is.

[@alexmeyer5260]

John Logan received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for Hugo, a movie based on a children's book (specifically "The Invention Of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick) which was directed by Martin Scorsese and won 5 Academy Awards. I wonder if critics would have liked Finding Neverland more if John Logan wrote that musical's book.

[@jasminecorreia1175]

What do you have to say now in 21 century: it’s theater as an art of the show or performance possible?

[@alexmeyer5260]

Ben Brantley is the theater's equivalent of Roger Ebert.

[@alexmeyer5260]

Mattbrain I used the comparison because in both men's cases, if they gave the work they were reviewing a rave review, their praise would undoubtedly be quoted in the work's advertising campaign.

[@alexmeyer5260]

Mattbrain The great thing about Ebert was that he could always appreciate the changing face of cinema. When he posted his final list of what he thought were the 10 greatest films of all time, he included a recent film in the list.

[@alexmeyer5260]

Mattbrain Exactly. I think Brantley is like that to some degree. If he weren't, he wouldn't have showered Hamilton with ecstatic praise.

[@vino140]

Alex Meyer Hamilton is flavor-of-month drivel !

[@alexmeyer5260]

Vino You hated Hamilton?

[@johnv7060]

The dean of drama critics, who now writes for a penny saver.

[@alexmeyer5260]

John Simon is the same guy who fought with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert over all things, Star Wars, particularly Return Of The Jedi, on Nightline back when it was hosted by Ted Koppel. Needless to say, Siskel and Ebert easily won the debate.

[@MrFakNo]

Alex Meyer Did they?

[@alexmeyer5260]

MrFakNo I'd say so. Hardly anybody agrees with John Simon's assessment of Star Wars.

[@jasminecorreia1175]

What do you have to say now in 21 century: it’s theater as an art of the show or performance possible?

[@vino140]

Brantley needs teeth whitener.

[@jeffkoons001]

John Simon really doesn't understand life or human beings or art or anything, RIP

[@lindakahler4799]

I dislike the way they diss John Simon.

[@BottleConcreteBlond]

Of course a homophobe like John Simon wouldn't like Fun Home. He can't even imagine that a lesbian or gay man would be a human being.

[@alexmeyer5260]

BottleConcreteBlond I doubt he's happy about the fact that the Supreme Court has just made gay marriage legal in all 50 states.

[@lindakahler4799]

Some of us just thought Something Rotten was a better show

[@liesljones5987]

NO critic is perfect, but John Simon brings a 'no nonsense" intelligence to theater criticism -which few of his colleagues even aspire to.

[@vino140]

LieslJones59 He brings nonsense to thea criticism.

[@wesman422]

All the white men