Of Critics, Friends, And Conflicts

Critic Dominic Pappatola finds himself uncomfortable about descriptions of Mel Gussow in obituaries last week. “If my obituary happens to focus on my career as a critic, I guess I’d much rather be known as a Champion of Audiences than a Champion of Playwrights. As a journalist, if you begin writing for your sources instead of your readers, you enter an echo chamber. Inside of that chamber, your voice might be resonant. Outside, it’s irrelevant.”