RoyBerko.info: Reviewing the reviewer--Betsy Sampliner

Saturday, February 08, 2014

Reviewing the reviewer--Betsy Sampliner

I have to tell you that, until last night, I thought that I was a "Porgy and Bess" purist and resisted seeing this production. However, after reading this review, I dragged Jim to see the play, and we were both overwhelmed. It was truly magnificent, Thank you for the impetus in getting us to experience this memorable evening.

Betsy Sampliner

Dr. Roy Berko

Roy Berko is a member of The Cleveland Critics Circle, The American Critics Association and Dance Critics Association. In 2013 he was selected as the Top Midwest Editor/Reviewer by BroadwayWorld.com. He is a college professor of communication, theatre and psychology, author of thirty-eight books, and a consultant. He is a certified Life Coach, Reiki practitioner, and a nationally certified Hypnotherapist. Roy has been granted Diplomate Status in the area of Professional Counseling by the International Academy of Behavioral Medicine, Counseling and Psychotherapy. He was elected to membership on the Elyria (Ohio) Board of Education and served as its President. He was selected by the Charles F. Brush High School (South Euclid-Lyndhurst, OH) Alumni Association to be inducted into the school's Wall of Achievement. His reviews and commentaries can be found on BroadwayWorld.com, CoolCleveland.com, posted on www.royberko.info, theatercriticism.com and mailed directly to a large list of subscribers via Mailchimp. To contact Roy email him at drberko@yahoo.com.

PHILOSOPHY OF REVIEWING

Every reviewer has a philosophy that he or she carries into the entertainment venue. I perceive theatre and dance as educational tools. The creator has something to say. He or she conceives the work to represent that message. Since the arts represent the era from which they come, often the message centers on a reflection of the society at the time. Sometimes the conceiver wants to purely entertain, with no message for the audience to carry out of the performance. Whatever the goal, I think it is my obligation as a reviewer/critic to evaluate whether the writer or choreographer succeeded in developing a clear message. From the standpoint of the production the major question is whether the director brought forth the intent and purpose of the creator of the manuscript or dance. Do the actors and/or dancers clearly develop their roles with proficiency? Do the technical aspects aid in creating the proper illusions? I also feel it is my responsibility to explain such things as the background of the writer or dance creator, how the audience reacted during and after the performance, what other factors will help the reader understand the background of the material, and why I commented as I did. One of the challenges of being a critic is realizing that no one likes to be negatively evaluated. Unfortunately, when one actively participates in a theatrical or dance performance activity, whether on-stage or backstage, her/his work becomes open to commentary. In doing that commentary, I try to be honest, explain why I reacted as I did, and stay open to the concept that reviewing, itself, is an art form, not a science.

HOW TO SEARCH THIS SITE

There are three ways to search this site: LABELS - Under the VENUE, REVIEWS, REVIEWER REVIEWS section (in this column), click on any of the headings to retrieve all of the posts. (e.g. clicking 'Beck Center' will bring up all of the news/reviews about Beck Center.) BLOG ARCHIVE - In this column, search for articles by date. If you see a triangle, click it to expand that section. SEARCH - In the upper left corner of this site is a white search box. Type in your search criteria (i.e. an actor's name, the name of a show, etc.) and click the "SEARCH THIS BLOG" box next to the search box. The page will refresh with any articles that match your criteria.

ROY'S THEATRE EXPERIENCE

Acting:
The Wall	The Fifth Season
Black Chiffon	The Sold Gold Cadillac
The Torchbearers	You Can't Take it With You
Cheaper by the Dozen	Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs
Picnic (Twice)	This Property is Condemned
Our Town (Twice)	The Cold Wind and the Warm
Special Guest	Tony n' Tina's Wedding

Directing:
Carousel (Twice)	Annie Get Your Gun (Twice)
The Rape of the Belt	Thurber Carnival
Special Guest (Twice)	The Owl and thr Pussycat
The Apple Tree	Aria De Capa
Subway Circus (Premiere)	Solid Gold Cadillac (Twice)
Picnic	Fantastics (Twice)
The Property is Condemned	You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
Fiddler on the Roof	Godspell (Twice)
Annie	Far From The Value of Green
Pippin	Our Town
Butterflies are Free	Vanities
Music Man	Man in The Moon Marigolds
Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat	I Never Saw Another Butterfly

Commercials and Print
Coca-Cola	Penney's
Wyse men's Store	Pease for Congress
First Alert	Gleem Toothpaste Hospice of the Western Reserve
Cleveland Indians

Films:
The Christmas Story	American Splendor


Media: •Broadwayworld.com--Theater reviewer


Arts America - Cleveland area reporter "Out of Darkness" - TV Series
WERE-AM - "Action Talent Live" - Theatre Reviewer Times newspapers - Entertainment Editor CoolCleveland.com - Theatre and Dance Reviewer
Neohiopal.com - Theatre and Dance Reviewer
WCPN-FM (Cleveland Public Radio) - On-air talent. Writer and announcer
WEWS-TV (ABC Cleveland) Staff Communication Expert. Staff communication expert with regular appearance on "Morning Exchange" and "Live on Five" televisions shows
WRKG-AM (Lorain) - On-air talent. Media/Theater/Entertainment reviewer
CONTINENTAL CABLEVISION (Elyria) - On-air talent, Program Developer. Quiz show host, interviewer, and and entertainment reviewer.
NORTH COAST CABLEVISION (North Olmstead) - On-air talent. Entertainment reviewer
GOOD MORNING AMERICA (ABC-TV) - On-air guest
FOX MORNING NEWS - On-air guest

ROY'S PUBLICATIONS

ROY'S BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS AUTHORED AND CO-AUTHORED

• Berko, Roy, Andrew Wolvin, Darlyn Wolvin and Joan Aitken, COMMUNICATING: A SOCIAL, CAREER AND CULTURAL FOCUS, 12th ed. (Boston, MA: Pearson Allyn
Bacon, 2012)

•Aitken, Joan and Berko, Roy, INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL, COMMUNICATING: A SOCIAL, CAREER AND CULTURAL FOCUS, 12th edition (Boston, MA: Pearson Allyn Bacon, 2012)

•Berko, Roy, Aitken, Joan and Wolvin, Andrew, ICOMM: FOUNDATIONS OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION (New York, NY: Rowman Littlfield, 2011)

•Berko, Roy and LAURA JANUSIK, INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL, COMMUNICATING: A SOCIAL AND CAREER FOCUS,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10th eds. (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin).

Berko, Roy, Andrew Wolvin and Darlyn Wolvin. COMMUNICATING: A SOCIAL AND CAREER FOCUS, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th eds. (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin).
Wolvin, Andrew, Roy Berko, Darlyn Wolvin, THE PUBLIC SPEAKER/THE PUBLIC LISTENER, 2ND EDITION (Los Angeles: Roxbury Press), 1999
Wolvin, Andrew, Roy Berko, Darlyn Wolvin, INSTRUCTOR’S MANUAL, THE PUBLIC SPEAKER/THE PUBLIC LISTENER, 2ND EDITION (Los Angeles: Roxbury Press), 1999
Berko, Roy and Linda Webster, “Assessment: What is it: Why do we need it? How do we use it?” Popular Measurement (Spring, 1998), pp. 43-44.
Berko, Roy, Sherwyn Morreale, Pamela Cooper and Carolyn Perry,”Communication Standards and Competencies for Kindergarten through Grade 12: The Role of the National Communication Association, Communication Education Volume 47, #2, April, 1998.
Berko, Roy and Linda Webster, “Assessment: What is it? Why do we need it? How do we use it?,” Popular Measurement, Journal of the Institute for Objective Measurement, Volume 1, #1, April 1998.
Roy Berko, Andrew Wolvin, Rebecca Ray, BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN A CHANGING WORLD (New York: St. Martin’s Press), 1997.
Roy Berko and Joan Aitken, INSTRUCTOR’S MANUAL FOR BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN A CHANGING WORLD (New York: St. Martin’s Press), 1997.
Roy Berko, Lawrence Rosenfeld, and Larry Samovar, CONNECTING: A CULTURE-SENSITIVE APPROACH TO INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION COMPETENCY 2nd ed., (Glenview, Illinois: Scott Foresman), 1997.
Joan Aitken and Roy Berko, INSTRUCTOR’S MANUAL FOR CONNECTING: A CULTURE SENSITIVE APPROACH TO INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION COMPETENCY 2nd ed., (Glenview, Illinois: Scott Foresman), 1997.
Berko, Roy and Megan Brooks, Pathways To Careers In Communication, 4th ed. (Annandale, VA: Speech Communication Association), 1995.
Berko, Roy, INCREASING ORAL COMMUNICATION (SPEAKING AND LISTENING) ACHIEVEMENT IN GRADES K-12 (Annandale, VA: Speech Communication Association), 1994.
Berko, Roy, Lawrence Rosenfeld and Larry Samovar, CONNECTING: A CULTURE-SENSITIVE APPROACH TO INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION COMPETENCY (Ft. Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace), 1994.
Aitken, Joan and Roy Berko, INSTRUCTOR’S MANUAL, CONNECTING: A CULTURE-SENSITIVE APPROACH TO INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION COMPETENCY (Ft. Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace), 1994
Berko, Roy, ed., SPEAKING AND LISTENING COMPETENCIES FOR ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOLS (Annandale, VA: Speech Communication Association), 1994.
Berko, Roy and Megan Brooks, GRADUATE DIRECTORY OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION, (Annandale, VA: Speech Communication Association) , 1994.
Berko, Roy and Megan Brooks, eds., RATIONALE KIT: INFORMATION SUPPORTING THE SPEECH COMMUNICATION DISCIPLINE AND IT’S PROGRAMS, (Annandale, VA: Speech Communication Association), 1994.
Berko, Roy and Megan Brooks, ed., CONSULTING AND PROGRAM ASSESSMENT SERVICE (Annandale, VA: Speech Communication Association), 1994, 1993.
Berko Roy, Andrew Wolvin, Darlyn Wolvin, THE PUBLIC SPEAKER/THE PUBLIC LISTENER (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin), 1993.
Berko Roy, Andrew Wolvin, Darlyn Wolvin, INSTRUCTOR’S MANUAL, THE PUBLIC SPEAKER/THE PUBLIC LISTENER (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin), 1993.
Berko, Roy and Megan Brooks, eds., BOOKS AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS IN COMMUNICATION, (Annandale, VA: Speech Communication Association), 1993.
Rosenfeld, Lawrence and Roy Berko, COMMUNICATING WITH COMPETENCY (Glenview, Illinois: Scott Foresman), 1990.
Rosenfeld, Lawrence and Roy Berko, COMMUNICATING WITH COMPETENCY, Instructor's Manual and Test Bank (Glenview, Illinois: Scott Foresman), 1990.
Berko, Roy, Andrew Wolvin, Ray Curtis, THIS BUSINESS OF COMMUNICATING, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th eds, (Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown).
Berko, Roy, Andrew Wolvin, Ray Curtis, INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL, THIS BUSINESS OF COMMUNICATING, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th eds, (Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown).
Berko, Roy, Fran Bostwick, Maria Miller. BASICALLY COMMUNICATING: AN ACTIVITY APPROACH, 1st, 2nd ed. (Dubuque, Iowa: William C. Brown, 1989).
EDUCATION IN THE 80'. (Washington, D. C.: National Education Association, 1981). "Chapter 3."
COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND AUDIO TAPES:

Berko, Roy, "Three Audio Tapes to Teach Communication Strategies," IACA, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Morreale, Sherwyn, Roger Hamilton, Roy Berko, Assessing Motivation to Communicate (AMTC)

ROY'S CONSULTING AND COUNSELING SERVICES

SERVICES AVAILABLE:

Public Speaking Training
Parliamentary Procedure Officiating
Conflict Resolution Guidance
Life Coaching (problem solving skills, intrapersonal conflict resolution, life style advice, self-concept enhancement)
Organizational Communication Audits
Mediation Services

COUNSELING: PERSONAL AND GROUP

Modalities of treatment:
Gestalt Therapy, Choice Therapy, Directed Intervention, Ericksonian Hypnosis, Systematic Desensitization, Crisis Intervention

Specialties:

•Couples counseling
•Teen counseling
•Gay & Lesbian Issues (coming out, gay/bisexual men in heterosexual marriages, dating, relational conflict, transgender issues
•Stress reduction
•Phobias
•Incest and rape (male and female)
•Shyness
•Self-concept enhancement
•Life style issues
•Crisis intervention
•Mediation

WORKSHOP TOPICS:

Safe Schools Are For Everyone--Stopping Bullying in the Schools
Safe Schools Are For Everyone--Legal and ethical issues of dealing with Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual and Questioning Youth
Your Body Speaks Louder Than Your Mouth: Nonverbal Communication in Organizations
Male-Female Communication
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Communication Problems in the Workplace
Improving Teaching in the Classroom
Ethical/Legal Responsibilities of Counselors Regarding Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual and Questioning Youth
Parliamentary Procedure: How to Run a Successful Meeting
Listening Improvement
Leadership Improvement

FORMER BUSINESS, SOCIAL SERVICE AND EDUCATIONAL CLIENTS:

Conrail (Philadelphia]
Alexandria County [VA] Board of Mental Health
CMG Health (Baltimore)
Whitman-Walker Mental Health Clinic (Washington)
Lincoln Assurance (Indiana)
Lincoln Insurance (Indiana)
Candadian Gas and Electric
Omni Hotels (Baltimore)
Stouffer Foods (Solon, Ohio)
Kobe/U.S. Steel (Lorain, Ohio)
Ford Motor Company (Lorain, Ohio)
Ohio Radiological Association
Amherst (Ohio) Hospital
Lorain (Ohio) Hospital
Cleveland Cotton Products (Mayfield Heights, Ohio)
Nordson Corporation (Amherst, Ohio)
Ridge Tool (Elyria, Ohio]
Westinghouse/Bendix Brake Division (Elyria, Ohio)
AFL-CIO (Lorain, Ohio)
Lorain County (Ohio) Bar Association
American Association Bank Women, Northeastern Chapter
Lorain National Bank (Elyria, Ohio)
Lakewood, Ohio Public Schools
Elyria, Ohio Public Schools
Lorain, Ohio Public Schools
Cleveland Heights-University Heights, Ohio Board of Education
International Secretaries Association
Maryland Hotel Association (Baltimore)
Maryland Society for the Blind (Baltimore)
International Association of Chiropractic Assistants (Colorado Springs, CO)
Charles Community College (Maryland)
Prince George's Community College (Maryland)
Oakland Community College (Michigan)
Texas Communication Association
Ohio Communication Association
Lorain County Community College (Ohio)
Washington D.C. Public Schools
Ohio Counseling Association

Saturday, February 08, 2014

Reviewing the reviewer--Betsy Sampliner

Dr. Roy Berko

Join My Mailing List

PHILOSOPHY OF REVIEWING

HOW TO SEARCH THIS SITE

VENUES, REVIEWS, REVIEWER REVIEWS

REVIEWS ARRANGED BY YEAR

ROY'S THEATRE EXPERIENCE

ROY'S PUBLICATIONS

ROY'S CONSULTING AND COUNSELING SERVICES

Saturday, February 08, 2014

Reviewing the reviewer--Betsy Sampliner

Dr. Roy Berko

Join My Mailing List

Subscribe to our mailing list

PHILOSOPHY OF REVIEWING

HOW TO SEARCH THIS SITE

VENUES, REVIEWS, REVIEWER REVIEWS

REVIEWS ARRANGED BY YEAR

ROY'S THEATRE EXPERIENCE

ROY'S PUBLICATIONS

ROY'S CONSULTING AND COUNSELING SERVICES