Curtain Call
Tony EdwardSamurai
A self-centered play critic struggles to re-build his life when a scathing review he writes drives a playwright to suicide, by becoming a playwright himself.
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Interesting idea – bit clunky in the wording.
First, I imagine the title is “theater critic” and not “play critic”. I could be wrong though?
Struggling to rebuild is too vague an action … BUT – you have put the more compelling action in this logline. So:
“After one of his critiques leads a playwright to suicide, a self-centered critic starts to write plays himself.”
The question then becomes – why? Obviously there is something therapeutic, a coping mechanism to a degree, but what would make this compelling if there is a reason he HAS to do it – mental or physical, internal or external – that would up the stakes if he failed to become a playwright.
Yes — definitely clunky — thanks for your take nicholasandrewhalls, much tighter. I think the WHY issue comes from the fact I’ve labeled him ‘self-centered’ — as in, if this guy is self centered why would he care if someone killed themselves because of one of his reviews..? Something to work on. And yes — ‘theater critic’ probably is the correct terminology. The driver for this logline was to have a play with ‘irony’ — now just have to look at this guy’s motivation (if he is self centered…)
Thanks again.
My 1st reaction to the logline was to recall the epigram of George Bernard Shaw in the appendix to his play “Man and Superman”: “He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches”. Which has been adapted to literature as “He who can, writes. He who cannot, criticizes.” (BTW, Shaw was a theater critic — and a very good one — before he turned his hand to writing plays himself.)
My gist of the logline was: “When a self-centered critic’s scathing review drives a playwright to show up at his doorstep and commit suicide, he struggles to recover by becoming a playwright himself.”
I modified because it seems to me that in order to shock the critic out of his self-centeredness, he should witness the suicide — not just read or hear about it. And that much should be in the logline to understand why the suicide would be the LCE (Live Changing Event) that triggers the LCD (Life Changing Decision) to be become a playwright himself.
I think the story has a rich deposit of ironic ore. For example:
The suicide makes him realize he always wanted to write plays rather than criticize, but didn’t have the guts to take the risky plunge.
And when he does, his initial efforts are rejected. When he finally gets one produced, it is savaged in return. Which, in turn, drives him to the verge of suicide (ultimate ironic punishment).
FWIW
You have nailed my intent as well as raised the stakes with the idea he witnesses the suicide. I was struggling with the potency of him finding out in any other way, such as from reading about it, or, from arriving at the newspaper where he is a respected, feared, but disliked theater (thanks nicholasandrewhalls) critic, to be told to take leave as there was a media storm brewing — or something like that. Witnessing it wins (as long as he doesn’t meet some kid that can see dead people 😉 ) Thanks heaps.
I’m not 100% sold on the critic committing suicide though, even though what you say makes perfect sense and certainly drives a poetic ironic nail into the coffin ;)… it might be overkill…;) — but worthwhile investigating nonetheless.
I’ll definitely try and get my hands on Shaw’s ‘Man and Superman’
Your feedback, as per usual, is much appreciated.
… just re-read your post which actually reads ‘… to the verge of suicide’ as opposed to him actually dying — so, not overkill at all…. Thanks again.
Your premise sets the stage to explore some interesting ideas and profound moral issues. Best wishes.