“In theatre circles, this pint-sized American widow is something of an institution. Her online newsletter, blanchemarvin.com, has a huge following here, and in the US. In it, she reviews every production she sees – and she sees a lot – be it in the West End or in a tiny room above a pub. Her reviews are detailed and impassioned, and feature a nifty star system. More significantly, she is a big champion of fringe theatre – though she prefers the term ‘studio’ – to the extent that, since 1991, she has funded, out of her own pocket, an annual £2,000 award to help small venues.”