Theatre ethics?

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:12am

Scenario:

In a production of the Mikado, the schoolgirl chorus will be wearing black flip-flop sandals. One of these girls (who just happens to be rather arrogant and aggitating to the others) has a physical disability--in her legs--where she physically lacks the ability to wear flip flops. She has complained numerous times to the director, and he says he'll think about it.

So--
Should the director and costumer have to accomodate to one person?
If not, what is to be done with the girl that cannot wear the right shoe?

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:15am

That's bizarre, but if it can be proven to be true, why not just give her sandals with the piece of fabric over the foot rather than stuck in the toes?

Or those little Chinese slippers you can buy everywhere. They are sandal-ish.

[Mamie]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:19am

I agree completely. Not allowing this one girl to perform because of FOOTWEAR goes beyond the pale. In fact, they can change it so all the girls wear black sandals - any kind of black sandals. That way they're still in costume and no one child will be standing out.

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:19am

She needs to have some sort of support in the back.

Choreographer suggested taping them to the back of her foot, and I offered to put together a flip-flop with ribbons that could tie around her ankle. But she just goes into, "nobody cares about my disease."

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:21am

Wow! That's a hard one.

My friend who was cast in "Mid summer" has a major limp. After much contemplation, they gave her a cane and it made her character that much more interesting!

Is this a very serious physical disability that she CANNOT wear flip-flops or does she just like to argue and go against everything?

Have all of the other people purchased their flip-flops? If not, maybe half could wear flip-flops and another half could wear another kind of shoe.

If indeed this is a "real disability," the director cannot make her wear something that is detrimental or impossible. It is against the law- "Americans with Disability Act"

My teacher nearly got sued for not allowing me to have my disability accomodations.

Let us know what happens- I'm kind of curious

[Mamie]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:27am

Will they be wearing long dresses? (I'm visualizing a geisha-look with the sandals). If so - they should just drop it and let her wear her shoes and brace.

My niece became paralyzed on her left side after surgery for a brain tumor when she was 5. She regained most of the use of her left side after years of physical therapy but her left hand is still paralyzed and her left leg/foot are very weak. When she doesn't wear a leg brace, she falls and she's broken MANY bones in her hand because of those falls. The leg brace is really important. If that's what she's talking about, they must listen to her.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:34am

does she wear an afo?
adidas sandles fit over an afo and come in black
although if people have aleady offered to make it so she can wear the flip flops, i dont see why she won't take their suggestions...

[ashley0139]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 12:40pm

If it's actually a physical disability, then how could they do that to her? I mean, there's a big difference between a person being a diva and just refusing to wear something and physically not being able to. I understand that people don't like her, but it's ridiculous that she wouldn't be able to do the show or something because of a disability. I don't even understand how that would be a discussion.

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 1:07pm

Thanks for the insights, everyone.

It's not like a huge disability (don't take that as me writing it off as nothing). She doesn't wear a brace(s) or anything. Her legs are just weaker than most people's.

We'll find out the outcome of the footwear discussion on Monday. I really want to know what happens. I wouldn't know what to do as a director in a situation like this.


Anyone familiar with Charcot-Marie-Tooth(CMT) disease?

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 6:13pm

it's a type of muscular dystrophy.
http://www.mdausa.org/disease/cmt.cfm