Some of the theater comments threads recently have questioned what critics do, and it’s been daunting to try to express the difference between seeing a show to write a review that reaches a readership vs. going to the theater for the specific purpose of wanting too have a good time or experience. This review, placing the work in the context of such a promising career cut short, even in context of the work that might still have been to come but never will be, says so much on that difference. The extra thought and analysis related here (example: why rhyme “Chris” and “bris”) would never occur to me sitting and watching or listening for entertainment, or even recommending to a friend, yet can be important to the art form, which will very likely look back and want to know where Mr. Friedman fit in and where he could have fit in. (Some of his work that didn't run long got a critical reception which suggests the work may be re-examined, even embraced more someday. This Encores could potentially be the start of that.)
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