PalabasTayo.com, a lifestyle and entertainment portal that spotlights the arts, the artists, and their quest for excellence, has announced “Critic on Critic,” a two-part video series featuring theater reviewers Vincen Gregory Yu and Ryan Robert Flores. In collaboration with Magnify MNL and powered by Playful Prescriptions, the series takes viewers inside the world of theater criticism in the Philippines, exploring how these reviewers got started, why they do it, and the challenges they face along the way.
The series aims to dispel the myth that critics exist to tear productions apart. Instead, it highlights how reviewers act as allies to the craft, offering insights that help theater grow. Audiences get a behind-the-scenes look at the critics’ thought process, writing approach, and how their work can deepen appreciation for both artists and viewers.
Playwright Luna Griño-Inocian underscores the value of fair criticism: “As a writer, I welcome honest criticism since it helps me identify the strengths and flaws of my work… see it from other’s eyes, allowing me to take a good hard look, analyze which of their opinions are in sync with my vision or they do not fully get what I am trying to say. Either way, I grow and learn… and hopefully come up with better work.”
Oliver Oliveros, Regional Editor in Broadway World, also emphasizes the responsibility of reviewers: “We’re required to approach reviews with impartiality, offering critique that aims to inform and uplift rather than disparage. Reviews must be fair, fostering a constructive dialogue about the art form.”
The series also includes engaging games that reveal Vincen and Ryan’s theater preferences, revisit memorable lines from past reviews that showcase both praise and scathing remarks. They share candid experiences—from being banned from shows, having invites rescinded, being subjected to bad sound quality, to witnessing the impressive work of university and community productions, covering three-hour long shows, and more.
New York–based stage and costume designer Joey Mendoza points out the importance of timely reviews: “My only strong feelings about reviews, other than being written by qualified people, involve the editors/publishers. If the purpose of reviews is to advise the gentle reader whether their money would be well spent, then they should be published as quickly as possible. Ideally, publishing them immediately after the show’s opening would serve this purpose.”
Philippine Star columnists Ricky Toledo and Chito Vijandre highlight the critic’s essential role in theater: “With theater booming in the country, ‘Critic on Critic’ is most welcome. The role of the critic cannot be stressed enough, sparking conversations that deepen our appreciation of the play as well as the human condition. We may not agree with everything critics say, but they definitely get us thinking, making their work indispensable for those involved in the production as well as the audience, and can only help in making our theater industry more robust and progressive.”
“Critic on Critic” invites audiences to step inside the minds of theater reviewers, and be inspired to contribute to the growth of the Philippine theater scene. Stream the series on PalabasTayo.com’s official Facebook page starting November 3, 2025, and for more updates, follow them on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
