Funny or Die: Arthur H. Cartwright, Children's Theater Critic Starring Alfred Molina

Posted on November 2, 2012

In this Funny or Die video Alfred Molina plays noted children's theater critic Arthur H. Cartwright. Cartwright approaches reviewing school plays with the intensity and acerbic wit that one is used to seeing in serious reviews about serious plays on Broadway. But Cartwright sees no reason to lower the critical bar just because the actors and playwrights are young. His brutal honesty horrifies some and thrills others.

As Cartwright sits watching a terrible play a proud father sitting next to him whispers: "That's my son up there." Cartwright replies: "I'm so sorry." When he reviews the children backstage, the gloves come off. After a particularly brutal review, one little girl exclaims, "But we tried hard!" Unmoved, Cartwright shoots back, "Try telling that to the spirits of Ibsen and Brecht because you've just trampled all over them."

Cartwright does like some plays: be sure to keep an eye out for the avant garde staging of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar that nearly moved Cartwright to tears with its brilliance. It's absolutely hilarious. Take a look: