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CONTACT:
Harris Spylios
Davis/Spylios Management
212-581-5767
dspylios@verizon.net
Performance Reel
ELI JAMES is an actor, writer, songwriter and standup in New York.

His Broadway credits include the National Theatre of Great Britain's "One Man, Two Guvnors," directed by Nicholas Hytner, and Alex Timbers's and Michael Friedman's "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." His solo show "William and the Tradesmen" has been performed at Ars Nova, La Mama, and The Drilling Company. Further stage credits include "Rutherford and Son" and "Temporal Powers" at The Mint, "The Four of Us" at Manhattan Theatre Club, "Becky Shaw" at Boston’s Huntington Theater, and the world premiere of Jason Grote’s "Maria/Stuart," directed by Pam McKinnon. His TV credits include "Gossip Girl," "Lights Out," and "Murder in Manhattan." He co-founded, wrote and performed with the sketch comedy group Quiet Library at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and currently performs with improv team Pleading Softly. His essay "Finding the Beat" was published in the Random House collection "Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers," a Boston Globe Bestseller.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

What kind of man an I? Please let me know.


It's been eight months since I started writing theater criticism and having it published (see below), and I guess I've maybe hit that eighth-month slump? That little demon that must come upon all critics in this, the third trimester? The one that makes me ache a bit and wonder: Do I have any right to publicly criticize people who are really just doing their best to create art and communicate? You know, they're trying, right? They're doing their best and maybe were misdirected, or lacked a certain judgment, or maybe their taste just isn't my taste. What right do I have to rabbit on about something that annoys me created by someone else, when all I had to do was sit on my ass and watch it?

Well, I have lots of right, actually, and so does everyone. If an artist is going to publicly display their work, the work should be open to public criticism. (And, in the theater, ticket prices are so expensive that I would find it helpful to cross-reference a few reviews before ponying up fifty bucks or more.)

I'm sure somebody somewhere is criticizing me for something I did in public somewhere, and that's just the risk you take.

Oh God. Oh God, that's a horrible thought. A nauseating feeling. Oh Jesus, what are they saying about me???

Problem is, probably nothing. I can't imagine anyone is saying much about me, except maybe in the way of personal criticism. "Jeez, that guy REALLY needs a new dress shirt..." or maybe "Eli needs to get his temper under control if he expects to ever work here again" or even "Eli James? I'll never forget the day he asked me for a ride home, and when I asked if he minded if we dropped someone else off along the way, he started to cry."

Other than that, I would guess no one is criticizing my "work" in public because there's been no public work to speak of. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ON THIS BLOG. It represents the bulk of my public work, and I don't even work that hard on it, so please feel free to let rip.

Uh, yeah, nice color scheme, LOSER.

Way to talk about really vital shit, James, if that IS your real name. Um real topical stuff buddy. The internet really cares about your personal insecurities about your career and a critic's right to criticize! Why don't you write a play about whether religion is good or bad while you're at it?

1 comment:

cheezstake said...

I have always admired your dedication to your dream. Remembering how you were during our younger days, I know you truly love the stage.

Even if I hadn't broken my leg, I was prepared to bow out of the show that year. I wanted to watch you on stage rather than be with you on it.

I hope this came across the right way.

BTW, have you given thought to stalking someone famous??