Matt Boothman
The bearded man-witch doth protest too much
Musician Arran Glass joins Dench and Lipman in responding publicly to criticism
Followers of my Twitter stream may already know my views on responding to criticism. It’s a debate most recently revived by Dame Judi Dench and Maureen Lipman, and this week I found myself on the receiving end.
A few weeks ago, I reviewed a production of Macbeth by Love&Madness at Riverside Studios for the British Theatre Guide. One member of the ensemble, actor/composer Arran Glass, took exception to my criticism and responded in musical form (warning: the song contains very strong language).
The song, simply titled Matt Boothman, had been online for a week before my internet spies pointed it out to me, so naturally I rushed to respond as promptly as possible. Play the video above to hear my beat poem, Methinks the Bearded Man-Witch, written and performed by myself, and produced by Richard Stratton.
Rating
Comments
RobotDan on June 15th, 2009 at 08:17am
Amazing!
Manley on June 15th, 2009 at 08:38am
I was expecting far less and am surprised, yet impressed by the soul you invest in this poem, for jest.
Olivia on June 15th, 2009 at 11:32am
Well done Matt Boothman, good show.
eViLegion on June 16th, 2009 at 08:36am
Tried a bit too hard, and didn’t really include enough ironic childishness to suit the challenge.
sockpuppet on June 19th, 2009 at 09:41am
7/10 for effort.
0/10 for making me laugh, which (unlike them) you didn’t do once. Sorry.
Keran on June 19th, 2009 at 10:02am
Quite amusing. Made me laugh - though I laughed more at eViLegion’s comment… ‘and didn’t really include enough ironic childishness to suit the challenge.’
I don’t think I need to comment on the idiocy.
eViLegion on June 19th, 2009 at 10:26am
Oh go on, comment.
Russell Clarke on June 19th, 2009 at 10:30am
that poem is just mitsubishi colt by tim minchin…
Andeh on June 19th, 2009 at 10:31am
methinks matt boothman doth steal from obscure australian comedians
Charlie on June 19th, 2009 at 02:12pm
Great poem. Less catchy/funny than Glass’ but technically streets ahead!
Maz on June 19th, 2009 at 03:25pm
Hrm…it just doesn’t have the same…impact. Not as catchy as Fa la la, you’re a cunt.
I think Arran is winning atm, make one with like a tambourine or something next time and call him fat or something. We don’t this argument getting too mature and sensible…
duncan on June 19th, 2009 at 06:04pm
Much better than the snivelly drivel the other chap did.
sam on June 19th, 2009 at 06:20pm
Tim Minchin is not obscure
BruceR on June 20th, 2009 at 05:38am
He Andeh - I thought exactly the same thing.
Check out what Glass is trying to copy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA2udpPjxUk
Ratbag on June 20th, 2009 at 06:17am
Excellent. And you were right, Glass can’t sing, and him throwing his rattle out of the pram doesn’t make it any less true.
I didn’t think Tim Minchin was obscure either. And just because this and Mitsubishi Colt are both beat poems doesn’t make them one and the same, and anyone who says otherwise evidently knows even less about beat poetry than I do.
The consensus seems to be that he’s funnier but I’m right, which suits me just dandy.
Mike on July 8th, 2009 at 02:35pm
This wasn’t funny… the other guy (Arran) was hilarious!
Matt seems to have fallen flat… his response was embarrassing. He should not have responded at all.
Also, those GarageBand presets — so cheap! I would would say the talent’s in Arran’s court.
Tom Cassidy on September 5th, 2009 at 01:37pm
Matt Boothman. Get better words. You berk
Mr Bumbles on September 9th, 2009 at 08:54am
The Artist creates, the critic bleats ( Or drones )
The consumer consumes both the artist’s creations and the critic’s bleats, then bleats some more, but in a less constructive way.
Leave a comment
-
Crowdsourced "newspaper" seeks to fill the void left by thelondonpaper... More -
New critical vocabularies arise in response to new forms of art... More -
Professional theatre journalism may die with print newspapers... More -
Traverse productions took three Fringe Firsts and three Herald Angels... More -
In which Matt responds to a reviewee's complaint, then gets predictably sidetracked... More -
All the mayhem of the Mile direct to your screen or smartphone... More -
Listings app functions well enough but excludes the majority of London theatres... More -
Pick of the Fringe lists provide audiences with navigation points - and... More -
Lies, damned lies and statistics about the critics that like writing lists... More -
One show outstrips thousands of others for early hype this year... More -
Could autoteatro and iTunes spawn theatre for the iPod generation?... More -
Is NT Live the first step towards shattering live theatre's international boundaries?... More
The opinions expressed here are the contributor's own and do not necessarily reflect the views held by t5m.
- Envy Lines - art at the Grosvenor pub
Brigitte Istim | 20th November 0 - Review: Robert Guediguian’s Army of Crime
Julia Kollewe | 16th November 0 - Of Dreams and Cities
Brigitte Istim | 13th November 0 - The birth of photography at the British Library
Brigitte Istim | 9th November 2 - Review: Delectable Love Bites
Lorena Di Nola | 9th November 1 - Grayson Perry, the chronicler of modern life
Julia Kollewe | 9th November 0 - Theatre Review: Is That A Bolt In Your Neck?
Emma Price | 6th November 0 - David Arnold and friends mix comedy and music in ‘Concert for CARE’
Charlotte Browne | 30th October 0 - The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
Emma Lee-Potter | 29th October 1 - Creating a Window Wonderland
Uprising | 28th October 0
- Review: Robert Guediguian’s Army of Crime
Julia Kollewe | 16th November 0 - Grayson Perry, the chronicler of modern life
Julia Kollewe | 9th November 0 - Miss London, the ‘Miss Dynamite of Comedy’, wins Funny Women Final 2009
Charlotte Browne | 23rd September 3 - Of Dreams and Cities
Brigitte Istim | 13th November 0 - The birth of photography at the British Library
Brigitte Istim | 9th November 2 - Martin Parr’s ‘Parrworld’ arrives at Newcastle’s Baltic
Katherine Wildman | 16th October 4 - The Tate Modern plays the generations game with Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin
t5m Insider | 13th May 3 - Neville Wakefield, Curator of Frieze Project
Frieze Art Fair | 2nd July 2008 0 - Ben Tyers Lives and Breathes His Art
The Age of The Marvellous | 21st October 0 - AVA Curator and Director, Joe La Placa “Elevates the Marvellous”
The Age of The Marvellous | 21st October 0
- The Age of The Marvellous: Not a show, but a movement
The Age of The Marvellous | 19th October 0 - Paul Fryer on Creating “Art Based on Life”
The Age of The Marvellous | 21st October 0 - Review: Delectable Love Bites
Lorena Di Nola | 9th November 1 - AVA Curator and Director, Joe La Placa “Elevates the Marvellous”
The Age of The Marvellous | 21st October 0 - Creating a Window Wonderland
Uprising | 28th October 0 - Martin Parr’s ‘Parrworld’ arrives at Newcastle’s Baltic
Katherine Wildman | 16th October 4 - Abbie Cornish shines in Jane Campion’s new film, Bright Star
Charlotte Browne | 27th October 1 - The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
Emma Lee-Potter | 29th October 1 - Frieze shines with showcase for younger galleries
Julia Kollewe | 19th October 1 - Ben Tyers Lives and Breathes His Art
The Age of The Marvellous | 21st October 0
- Frank Dunphy, Damien Hirst’s Manager
Frieze Art Fair | 2nd July 2008 2 - Neville Wakefield, Curator of Frieze Project
Frieze Art Fair | 2nd July 2008 0 - The bearded man-witch doth protest too much
Matt Boothman | 15th June 21 - Surreal and theatrical; the set designer’s choice
Art London | 4th October 2008 1 - Harry Blain, Haunch of Venison
Frieze Art Fair | 1st July 2008 1 - Matthew Williamson, Fashion Designer
Frieze Art Fair | 2nd July 2008 1 - Rounds of inspiration at Art London
Art London | 8th October 2008 1 - Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn come to London’s Proud Central
t5m Insider | 30th April 1 - Frieze Art Fair 2007: Highlights
Frieze Art Fair | 1st July 2008 2 - Arnaud Bamberger of Cartier
Frieze Art Fair | 2nd July 2008 0
- Frieze shines with showcase for younger galleries
Julia Kollewe | 19th October 1 - Grayson Perry, the chronicler of modern life
Julia Kollewe | 9th November 0 - Creating a Window Wonderland
Uprising | 28th October 0 - Francois Pachet’s ‘East Meets West’ Pecha Kucha from the Nissan Design Centre
Nissan East West | 25th September 0 - Watch Suzanne Lee’s ‘East Meets West’ Pecha Kucha for Nissan Design Europe
Nissan East West | 25th September 1 - An inside look at Nissan Design Europe’s East meets West Pecha Kucha
Nissan East West | 8th October 1 - Martin Parr’s ‘Parrworld’ arrives at Newcastle’s Baltic
Katherine Wildman | 16th October 4 - Polly Morgan, from Macabre to Marvellous
The Age of The Marvellous | 21st October 0 - Abbie Cornish shines in Jane Campion’s new film, Bright Star
Charlotte Browne | 27th October 1 - Miss London, the ‘Miss Dynamite of Comedy’, wins Funny Women Final 2009
Charlotte Browne | 23rd September 3
related channels in arts
Click here to read more...
conversations
- 46664
- Alice Eve
- Alice Temperley
- Andy Murray
- Barbara Taylor Bradford
- Brent Hoberman
- British Red Cross
- Campaign to End Fistula
- Cath Kidston
- Christian Slater
- Clemency Burton-Hill
- David Guetta
- DeLonghi
- Derrick Santini
- Edith Bowman
- Elena Roger
- Gary Kemp
- Guy Pratt
- Hugh Padgham
- Issa London
- James Blunt
- James Brown London
- James Burton
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Jason Isaacs
- Judge Jules
- Jurnee Smollett
- Kate Bosworth
- Kelly Slater
- Kmart Design
- Lady GaGa
- Lake Bell
- Lauren Gold
- Mark Rae
- Marsha Thomason
- Martha Wainwright
- Mr. Hudson
- Music Managers Forum
- Natalie Imbruglia
- Nick Morrison
- Nile Rodgers
- Nissan East West
- Paris Hilton
- Paul Oakenfold
- Paul Smith
- Pete Brown
- Pete Tong
- Petra Nemcova
- Phil Knott
- PPQ
- Ray Winstone
- Richard Corrigan
- Richard Dawkins
- Richard Lloyd
- Rocco DiSpirito
- Roger Sanchez
- Rosario Dawson
- Rufus Wainwright
- Ruth Palmer
- Shaggy
- Sir Ranulph Fiennes
- Steve Redgrave
- t5m Insider
- Tara Bernerd
- Teddy Thompson
- The Age of The Marvellous
- The End of the Line
- The Hoosiers
- Theo Fennell
- Tom Aikens
- William Boyd
- Yasmin Le Bon
- Zac Goldsmith
- Affordable Art Fair
- Art Basel
- Art London
- Belvedere IX
- Cannes Film Festival
- Cavalli Club
- Chinawhite Rock The Polo
- Cinémoi
- Clothing at Tesco
- Frieze Art Fair
- Hollywood Domino
- Ibiza Showcase
- London Fashion Week
- London Film Festival
- MOBO Awards
- Mothers4Children
- New York City Fashion Week
- Nokia 5800 Launch
- Polo In The Park
- Samsung Supports Breast Cancer Charities
- Silver Clef Awards
- The British Independent Film Awards
- The BRITs
- The Classical BRITs
- The Prince's Trust
- WOMAD
- Zoo Art Fair
- Alex Wheatle
- Alexandra Cocksworth
- Amanda Bell
- Amanda Eliasch
- Angelica Hermon
- Angelique Moon
- Anna Blundy
- Barnaby Smith
- Ben Cohen
- Ben Kippin
- Benjamin Cooper
- Blackmarket Boo
- Brigitte Istim
- Bruce Hood
- Carli Humphries
- Charlotte Browne
- Chris Allsop
- Chris Hall
- Chris Lochery
- Chris Mugan
- Chris Sullivan
- Claire Lewis
- Clare Wallace-Hadrill
- Clark Hogan-Taylor
- Dan Jude
- Daphne Thissen
- Deborah Willimott
- Deirdre Pirro
- Doireann Ronayne
- Emma Lee-Potter
- Emma Price
- Eoin Noble
- Eyes of Amber
- Gabrielle Teare
- Harry Shapiro
- Helen Kirwan-Taylor
- Hot on her Heels
- James Harrington
- Jane Thynne
- Jennifer O'Shea
- Jesse Kornbluth
- Joe West
- Joel Gregory
- Jon Cohen
- Julia Kollewe
- Julie Anne Rhodes
- Kate Morris
- Katherine Wildman
- Katy Morton
- Kelly Moorhouse
- Kris Griffiths
- Kristina Dryza
- Lauren Hughes
- Lisa Marks
- Loose Cannons
- Lorabell
- Lorena Di Nola
- Lorraine Goddard
- Louise Mowbray
- Luke White
- Maaike Veen
- Madelaine Greene
- Mark Davison
- Mark Pilkington
- Matt Boothman
- Michael Shelton
- Michele Nardelli
- Michelle Grey
- Millissa Mathai
- Neil Innes
- Nicholas Deigman
- Nick Clarke
- One More New Yorker
- Pete Walter
- Phil Wadley
- Rantzinya Pants
- Richard Preston
- Rosie Millard
- Ryan Reddick
- Sarah Dolman
- Sav D'Souza
- Stewart Darkin
- Stuart Colman
- Stuart Heritage
- The Browser
- The Gunning Hawk
- Tim Willis
- Tom Cain
- Twilight Moonlighter
- Uprising
- Valerie Tesler
- Warhol's Cat
- William Llewellyn
Magnific*nt! Excellent poem, you obviously have a modicum of literary flair but you don’t really have the voice for… erm, speaking. You should have had Arran Glass recite it in your stead.