The News-Record would be well served to reserve a regular spot for a Counterpoint response every time L. Mizell attempts to review a Triad Stage production.
If we pretend for a moment that "it" represents the sensibilities and tastes of the the many satisfied playgoers who have attended one or more of this season's six plays, then it is safe to say that Mizell truly "doesn't get it."
This particular production of "Tobacco Road" was not an easy one to review, but few viewers are likely to have left the theatre sharing Ms. Mizell's take on what they just observed.
I have complained in the past about the shortcomings of the reviews of the Triad Stage productions and got just a "duly noted" for my efforts. Perhaps enough others will join Mr. Haggerty and myself in our desires to read a review that at least occasionally gets "it" right.

What I've heard (I don't know personally and could really care less) is that Triad Stage is offering less and less 'clean' productions and have decided that taboo and raunchy is the way to go.

We'll just have to wait and see how that works out. As long as the seats are filled, I guess that's what is important.

Yes..."The Diary of Anne Frank" was taboo. "Beautiful Star" was downright raunchy with its story of the nativity. "Syncopation" and "Noises Off" were just evil, vile pieces of theatre, as was "The Old Settler" and "The Matchmaker"...and that was just in the last 12 months! And let's not forget the fact that Triad is now doing children's fare in the summer. Shame!!! I am always amused by people chiming in on something they "heard" about or could care less of. Why waste your time commenting on something you are not educated on? But I must say, keep em' comin'. We all occasionally need something to remind us of how people feel the need to be heard, even if what they have to say has no validity.

bumblehawk,

You seemed to have left out "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" which is playing June 15 - June 30.

Yeah...one of those shows where the opinions are based on the title alone, instead of any basic research online or otherwise.

But yes, that is one play out of many that may be deemed "taboo" by some people.

"where the opinions are based on the title alone"

With a title like that, kinda hard to go wrong.

From the TriadStage website:

Act 2 continues with …Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, the saga of feuding female vampires whose paths first collide in ancient Sodom. Their bitter rivalry endures for 2,000 years, with stops in 1920's Hollywood and retro 80's Las Vegas along the way.

Definitely for adults only.

For the record, the Triad Stage season is composed of seven plays chosen to reflect a well-balanced, entertaining, and challenging collection of offerings. This season has included more challenging plays such as Tobacco Road and The Caretaker, as well as the sheer entertainment of Noises Off and Syncopation.

Vampire Lesbians of Sodom is a play being presented by the UNCG Department of Theatre, as part of a larger festival that includes Tobacco Road. It is not being presented by Triad Stage or offered to the Triad Stage season passholders.

This summer festival includes plays for all audiences, from the family-friendly Carolina Jack's last adventure, to the late-night adventures of the aforementioned Vampire Lesbians.

Bumblehawk,triadstagelover, and Voice of Reason:

Thank you for your posts. Unfortunately, many of our "loudest" citizens fall into the category of "don't know" or "I've heard". They are the same ones who vote against bonds for schools and public improvements for our city and county and mostly complain about "high taxes" and "moral decay". They've never given a dime to ANY arts organization, and they couldn't tell a Monet from a toupee!Taking one play or just the title and making a mountain out of it, is par for the course. We all remember the ruckus caused by the performance of Le Cage aux folles a few years back! Most of those protesting that production had NO idea what it was about, they just "heard" it was about "HO-MOE-Shek-shewels".
And as my good friend Jeff always says, "It's not against the law to be stupid".

I've enjoyed these comments -- my opinion so rarely earns Letters to the Editor status that I sometimes wonder if anyone's reading my reviews.

Mr. Haggerty's letter is especially intelligent and thoughtful; however, I want to point out that I neither wanted nor expected *Tobacco Road* to be a "feel-good" play. In fact, much of my criticism was that the play made light of the very real suffering Erskine Caldwell described regarding the plight of sharecroppers during the Depression. To me, it was akin to turning the Joads into the Beverly Hillbillies.

In my opinion, by moving the action to a time when not only were jobs easier to find, but social agencies also abounded -- not to mention soap -- it further lessened the impact of Caldwell's original vision.

I reviewed four plays of the seven in Triad Stage's 06-07 season (I include *Beautiful Star*), and this is the only one to receive a negative review. A seventy-five percent success rate for any one viewer is to be lauded.

Where can I find a full text of Mizell's review? The paper doesn't seem to have posted it online. I've already thrown my paper away and wish to re-read it.