This Just In...
Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades.
Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “InterCHANGE,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Taking the fun out of The Lion King
By Kevin Fischer
Friday, Feb 15 2008, 05:38 PM
DISCLAIMER: IF YOU HAVE TICKETS TO THE LION KING AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THE SHOW, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT READ THIS BLOG!
Shame on Damien Jaques, critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The man is a party poop, a fuddy duddy, a spoiler.
Jacques has written a few articles about Disney’s Broadway smash, The Lion King that is now playing in Milwaukee.
He opens one of his reviews urging theater-goers, “Get to your seat on time! Latecomers risk missing the most stunning and affecting opening scene in all of musical theater.”
Nothing wrong with that.
If you’re writing about this production, it’s imperative you make reference to the wonderful opening spectacle.
But then Jacques spends the next few paragraphs describing the opening in great detail, literally spoiling the excitement for Lion King virgins.
Normally, I’d link to the article I’m referring to.
Not this time.
I’m not going to be an accomplice to Jacques’ robbing anyone else of suspense and anticipation.
In another review, Jaques wrote that this particular tour skimped on the fabulous opening (which he spolis again). Having seen the show, I admit he’s right about that. He also comments that the seats at the end of some highly priced rows have obstructed views. Again, he’s right on.
True, Jaques, it could be argued, was merely fulfilling his role as “critic.” But I can just imagine someone holding tickets, especially first-time Lion King-ers reading his stuff, and slowly feeling the air sputter out of their balloons.
I’m sure Jaques is a decent chap. But there seems to be a pattern with most, not all, but most newspaper critics that they perceive they’re not truly doing their job unless they include something negative to grouse about.
What Jaques did is similar to a movie reviewer revealing the ending.
My critique of this critic:
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
