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Reviews tell you whether a critic liked a particular production and why. Hopefully, the critic will also include an analysis of the play's strengths and weaknesses. There are both print and online resources available.
New York Theatre Critics' Reviews PN2000 .N76 drref is the best review source for Broadway and some Off-Broadway shows running from 1950 - 1994. Reviews are reprinted in full from various sources such as The New York Times, New York Post, Time and other publications. There are cumulative indexes for 1940-1960, 1961-1972, and 1973-1981.
Here is an example of a review from The New York Times:
London Theatre Record PN2596.L6 L66 ddref (or Theatre Record) covers shows running in London from 1981 to the present. It is not as easy to use as the New York Theatre Critics' Reviews and you will need to use the London Theatre Index PN2596.L6 L661 (or Theatre Index) to find the page number for your play.
Here is an example of a review from the Evening Standard:
| Time Period | Resource & Information | Library & Call Number |
|---|---|---|
| Co | Critics' Theatre Reviews 1940-1942 Later titles: New York Theatre Critics' Reviews 1943-1994 and National Theatre Critics' Reviews 1995-1996 |
792.09 NE 1940-42 drref |
| M & Co | A Guide to critical reviews: American drama, 1909-1982 | Z5782. S34 1984 pt.1 drref |
| M & Co | A Guide to critical reviewes: Foreign drama, 1909-1977 | Z5782. S34 1973 pt.3 drref |
| Cl, M & Co | International bibliography of theatre
1982- |
Z5783. I57 1982 drref | Co | London theatre index 1981-1990 Later title: Theatre index 1991- |
PN2596. L6 L661 drref |
| Co | London theatre record Later title: Theatre record 1991- |
PN2596. L6 L66 drref v.1-10 1981-1990 |
| Co | New York theatre critics' reviews 1943-1994 and
National theatre critics' reviews 1995-1996 Earlier title: Critics theatre review 1940-1942 |
PN2000. N76 drref |
| M & Co | The New York Times directory of the theater | PN1581. N39 1973 drref & ugref |
| M & Co | The New York times theater reviews | PN2266. N48 1870-1976 SuzzRef |
| M & Co | On stage: Selected theater reviews from The New York times 1920-1970 | PN2277. N5 B4 drref |
| M & Co | Selected theatre criticism | PN2277. N5 S44 2985 drref v.1 1900-1919
|
| Cl | Shakespeare in production, 1935-1978: A selective catalogue | Pr3091. B3 drref |
| Co | Theatre index 1991 Earlier Title: London Theatre Index 1981-1990 |
PN2596. L6 L661 drref |
| Co | Theatre record 1991- Earlier title: London theatre record v.1-10 1981-1990 |
PN2596. L6 L66 drref |
Legend for table
| Resource | Information | Access |
|---|---|---|
| The New York Times Theatre Reviews | Reviews of NY productions and selected regional productions | Open Access to registered NYTimes users |
| Local and national newspapers | Open Access to most; may require free registration | |
| Expanded Academic ASAP | Good source for reviews in selected newspapers and popular press magazines | UW restricted |
| Lexis Nexis Academic | Good source for reviews in national and international news sources | UW restricted | the Historical New York Times (1851 - 2001) | Good-bye microfilm! The full-text of the New York Times from 1851-2001 is now online! | UW restricted |