I think you may have taken my explicit urging of readers to attend a performance as a reliable cue that this column must surely be intended as a review of the production – and you then read the piece with all the expectations that a reader of theater reviews might have of that genre. But I would venture to say that almost none of those usual expectations are met by this piece, save for the one: a recommendation to go see it. In sum, it was not my intention to write a column that serves a review of the production (or an assessment of the merits of the translation, or anything of that sort).

Re: “Do you mean that the play wouldn’t be worth seeing if it were presented in another venue?”

No.

Re: “Do you mean it’s only worth mentioning because you can’t think of any other way to publicize obscure Ann Arbor parks?”

Also no. And I’m not sure that West Park can be fairly described as “obscure.”

Re: “…but your article convinced me that this one isn’t worth seeing.”

The first three paragraphs of the piece are dedicated to an explicit attempt to convince the reader that theater in general and Greek drama in particular is not my cup of tea – and further, that this dislike is deeply rooted in my unfortunate life history. So even if you misunderstand this column to be a review of the production – one that pans it – I’m not sure why you’d be convinced by the likes of me.

Re: “… if I’m reading closely enough.”

Maybe try reading it again, bearing in mind the following severely-abbreviated outlined form of the column: I hate all forms of theater. So it’s ironic that I would urge you to see this play or, indeed, any play. Yet I urge you to see it – because it’s performed in one of our lovely public parks. You should go, even if you think you hate Greek drama. The only thing I’m qualified to tell you about this production is that it’s very well done. Look, here, I went to the trouble to process these pretty pictures for you and make sound recordings of it as a way to whet your appetite.

If you read this column again and are still convinced by it that you should not see this production, let me know and I will make up the loss of the revenue Penny Seats would have enjoyed from the ticket you would have purchased, except for the fact that you read this column.

Something that’s “professional” doesn’t necessarily have to be enjoyable or interesting — and that’s the only positive thing you said about the production, if I’m reading closely enough. I know you mentioned irony, but I’m not sure which part of your review is ironic, and which is just unenthusiastic.

I’ve LOVED every Shakespeare in the Arb production I have been to, but your article convinced me that this one isn’t worth seeing.