Let me hear it. Don't be shy.

Just by way of repetition here, readers, I do welcome the feedback, props and missiles alike. That goes for the blog items and for anything you see as a theater critic for the Los Angeles Daily News (and in another assorted SoCal papers that my company owns).

I bring this up because this morning I arrived at my desk and listened to a purposefully anonymous call who thought I came across as seriously sour grapes when I took apart the Falcon Theatre's production of "Balancing Act." She apparently read the review the night before the thing appeared in print, advised me to take a good hard look at how I "come off" in print and informed me that it was due to unprofessional reviews like mine that she and her husband stopped taking the Daily Bulletin. Which is one of our company's sister papers, by the way, that also runs my reviews from time to time.

God, I love this job!

Had this lady been, er, courageous enough to leave a name, a return phone number, or an e-mail address, I would have gotten back to her and thanked her for writing. I would have asked her whether she had seen the production in question or whether her objection to my review was based purely on my tone (the equivalent of "I don't like your face."). In either case, I would have said what I always say whenever someone gets in my face : something along the lines of, "well, you're free to disagree with me. Differing viewpoints is what makes this job (and theater-going in general) worthwhile. Thanks again for contacting me."

I don't really think the angry mystery caller is reading this blog entry. My point is, I LIKE FEEDBACK. Tell me if I'm full of it, if I nailed it, if I missed something. Make it a two way street. When I write my review, I've given my opinion. Why not give me yours in return?

That's all.

Happy playgoing.