That was way harsh, Tai.

Chris Jones' review of Pegasus Players' production of The Frogs appeared in today's Trib, and it seems he really hated it. (My review will be in next week's TOC.)

The most interesting passage, to me, is this:

Worse yet, Pegasus sprang for nary a single Equity contract to serve Jay Paul Skelton's production. So instead of a member of that skilled crew of Chicago musical comedians who might have alleviated our misery, we get a series of performances from inexperienced actors who find it hard to hold the vocals together in this aquatic hell.

Regardless of anyone's opinions of the performers, I'd be hard pressed to call them "inexperienced." I've personally seen most of the actors in the cast of The Frogs on multiple stages. It's the Equity comment that sticks; it's almost as if Chris is saying that non-Equity performers are beneath him. I guess that's why he usually assigns storefront shows to his freelancers?

Comments

[Brooke]

DAMN YOU Chris Jones!! Maybe that was an equity actor, with perfect timing, calling on Mr. J's CELL PHONE in the middle of the second act.

[Zikes.]

Now go back and read his review for BoHo's "Side Show". Did something make him hate non-equity theater between then and now?

[Kris]

Or read his reviews of White Horse's Wild Party or Cradle Will Rock, or any of his coverage of The House.

That's what's so odd about this: not only is it a mean-spirited jab at every non-Equity artist, it's out of character.

[Ragsdale]

Most all of Jones' reviews can be summed up in three words: "Americans attempt play."