Selective Quotes
It looks like “selective” quotes from reviews are likely to be a thing of the past from the end of the year when the new EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive comes into force.
You know the sort of thing: the critic writes “this is the furthest I have seen from a perfect play” and the producers splash “a perfect play” all over the posters.
It’s actually not as frequent as it used to be - critics have made their opinions felt and there exists a kind of “gentleman’s agreement” in London - but it still happens.
The Directive would make it unlawful - and, in some cases, even criminal - to mislead the public by using “unfair commercial practices”. Of course, as with all EU Directives (and, indeed, with all laws coming out of Westminster), before we know the full effects, it will have to be tested in the courts, so the OFT is likely to be taking an unwonted interest in theatre in the New Year!