When I was a newswriter my editor threatened us with bodily harm if we made an error.

You’d get fired for misspelling someone’s name.

Seems today we are much more cavalier about accuracy and precision.

I like to think our writing reflects who we are and how we judge our readers.

When I write, for example, I imagine what a reader hears. And I’m flattered when someone takes time to read what I have to say.

Writing honors the reader.

So I was offended—as a reader—when consuming the programme for a local production of Sweeney Todd.

The programme—a glossy 4-color booklet about the play and the company–is an extension of the theatre, in this case, Portland Center Stage.

The lavish production shows that folks take great care in all sorts of tiny details–ensuring that the lighting reflects the feel of London’s squalor and that blood sputters in just the right color of crimson from the necks of the barber’s victims.

But the programme copy is sophomoric and dull.

The theatre company needs a good editor.

Take a look, for example, at the biographies of the cast:

Aloysius Gigl (Sweeney Todd) is “thrilled to portray Sweeney.” Robert Koutras (ensemble) is “thrilled to be back at Portland Center Stage.” Rita Markova (Joanna) is “thrilled to finally be on a long-awaited visit to Portland.” Matthew Alan Smith (Judge Turpin) is “thrilled to be making his debut.” Nicole Tori (ensemble) is “thrilled to be making her…debut” while Leah Yorkston (ensemble) is “thrilled to join the cast.” Eric Little (Tobias Ragg) is “all a-thrill to be making his debut.”

Clearly the cast is thrilled.

Too bad the programme—which is a material take-away from the show—reflects poorly on the production so lovingly created.