Do These Smarty-Pants Make Me Seem Obtuse?

Unlike some websites, (Jim Chapman's latest mouthpiece ironically titled 'The Voice of London' is one prime example,) here at Sonny Drysdale Presents, the 'Comments' section is never closed.

Here is an email received by Beat Magazine (or www.beatmagazine.ca) for a column on the stage adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice' which I did for the current March issue. You can read the original two posts down under 'The Annual Theatre Column.' If you haven't read it yet, I recommend that you do so before reading the rest of this here post.

Anyway - this is what one Stephanie O, has to say -

"Hi - I picked up 'The Beat' for the first time recently and was flipping through when I saw Sonny Drysdale's article on 'Pride and Prejudice.' The first time I read it I was shocked; I couldn't believe that someone would write an article that was so explicitly wrong in its facts (saying Jane Austen was a playwright, that 'Pride and Prejudice' was based on 'Bridget Jones'; that 'Emma' was based on 'Clueless' ...) When I searched Drysdale's blog online I saw that he had posted a very similary article, and that a few of the comments on it suggested that the piece may have actually meant to be tongue-in-cheek.

"I did not get the sense that it was some kind of joke when I was reading it (if that was in fact the case.) If Drysdale was joking, I'm not sure what his point was in doing so; my closest guess is that he was critiquing the fact that a plethora of Jane Austen remakes now exist and as a result people have forgotten that she was actually a renowned 18th c writer. But if there was a point in his suggestion that Austen is a contemporary playwright remaking 'Bridget Jones' and 'Clueless' into late 18th c set pieces it was lost on me and the other people I've shown the article to to get their opinions on it. It seems to me this article actually reproduces the very problem Drysdale might be poking fun at rather than critique it.

"As a PhD student of English literature, a former News Editor and Culture Editor for a small newspaper, and a writer and reader myself, I find this article somewhat troubling in that it doesn't accomplish much other than confusing readers more about Jane Austen's relationship to contemporary versions of her work.

"Otherwise, I think it's awesome that you've put together 'The Beat' and you've done great work in putting it together. Viva independent arts (print) publications :)"

... well, of course I can't comment on any of this. You don't explain a joke. It's just not done. It's unprofessional.

Instead, I will take the wise advice of my good friend Al who says that when dealing with such people, the best course of action is to simply say, "I'm sorry. You're absolutely right. It will never happen again." And then get out of the room as fast as you can before they see the smirk on your face.