ENTERTAINMENT  GEELONG
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Dear Colin
I was extremely upset and confused by your scathing review on the two plays, in the winter solstice program, presented at the Potato Shed at the weekend.
From your review , I saw different plays than you.  I saw these two plays on Friday night and as a member of the audience,  take offence at your comment – “we, the audience, were struggling to come to terms with Lee’s inappropriate casting…” In my opinion  a mature aged, average looking woman was the right and only  choice to tell the story. Sitting in the audience it was very believable that a mature aged woman could and would keep a man in a box for a year.   “The woman” had been married before and had had many experiences with her previous husband and the one she kept in the box.  And as for the comment   “Lee’s casting as a sexy, mentally-troubled and uberpossessive wife didn’t gel with her age, build and demeanor”, well,  that  just comes across as a sexist and ageist comment. What were you expecting to see – a young slip of a thing, in a black leather g-string,  with whip and chains, who had wouldn’t look old enough or experienced enough to earn a living, let alone find, marry and  dominate  two husbands?    I was absorbed in the story and not once did it cross my mind that “the woman” should be younger. I have talked to a few people who went to the other performances and they were of the same opinion as me. I just hope people weren’t put off by your narrow-minded review, because if they were, they missed an entertaining, thought –provoking , and at times a sadly funny play, that had  drama, intrigue and took me on a rollercoaster of an emotional journey.  What more can you ask for, from live theatre?
Obviously you have only thought about city folk when you wrote  the “boxing day” sales comment. I have friends who live in small country towns and I know  that the only thing open on boxing day is a service station.
As for the cleanliness of the box, maybe a potty or something could have been visible, but remembering that the woman was always nagging and complaining about having to clean up after him all the time and do everything for him, I chose to think that she was obsessed with keeping him clean and did that constantly, maybe through a flap at the back. It didn’t really matter as I was involved in the story.  
  The other play, The Proposal, complimented Boxing Day, with its young, bright actors and light hearted story. Local theatre should be encouraged and supported by everyone, particularly those involved in the industry, even critics.
My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the Winter Solstice and commend the theatre group for their hard work, their choice of plays and actors. We appreciated the obvious hard work they had put into the acting, set design and creating a “winter” atmosphere.
Well done and I can’t wait for the next one.
Pat B.
PS. Hoping you will put this on your website as there are always two sides to a story /opinon and people need to read both, not just take the word of one critic who didnt really listen to the audience reactions and take into account their responses.

Dear Colin
Thank you very much for your lovely review of Confusions. Im glad you enjoyed it. Also just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your reviews. I love how much is going on in this small area and you really highlight how involved and passionate people in this area are to the arts. I think you do a great job. Anyway, enough of that or you'll get a big head LOL
See you round
Kate Hunter

Hi Colin,
Thanks for the most encouraging review. You know we love to see you and Shirley there..
I don't know  how you do it..
Looking at all the reviews you have written over a number of years now.. the pace getting more frenetic... more companies doing things, more people getting involved.. keeping up with names and spelling them right!!! and parts and directors and producers  and and and ....!!!!
Anyway this is just to say we appreciate what you do for us...
Cheers
Elaine Mitchell