As an avid supporter of the arts in San Luis Obispo, I must say that a poor review of one of our local theater pieces is never a thing to be happy about, and this is exasperated further by the issue that apparently multiple parties do not agree with Anna Weltner’s opinion (“Not-so-grand Manner, Sept. 6). However, two weeks now of “letter to the editor” letters bashing Anna, are neither necessary nor fair (“Your critic lives in a subjectivity-based fantasy land,” Sept. 20, and “Credible reviewers don’t scoff offensively,” Sept. 27). Anna Weltner is a valuable asset to not only the New Times, but to the San Luis Obispo arts scene as a whole.
And if all critics are supposed to shape their thoughts and opinions to please the masses, then what is the point in the first place? C’mon guys.
This article appears in Oct 4-11, 2012.