Bullets removing the "F word" at certain performances
Bullets removing the "F word" at certain performances
LiveLoud22
Chorus Member Joined: 1/18/11
#1Bullets removing the "F word" at certain performances
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:02pm
Helene York posted a picture of an announcement from the Bullets Over Broadway producers. Apparently they're removing the word "fvck" from all Wednesday matinees, in order to get student groups to come. On one hand, I get it - educators can't bring students to shows with a lot of profanity, without getting in trouble. On the other hand, I feel a bit bad for those actors! While I'm sure they'll be fine (after all, they're pros), if I were an actor I'd be afraid of muscle memory taking over (from months performing the script as is) and slipping up.
I also worry (perhaps unnecessarily) about selective censorship like this becoming overblown. Imagine a hypothetical where they bring Spring Awakening back, and, after a few weeks, ticket sales dip a bit. To attract student groups, the producers decide to censor the sex scene and a lot of the heavy duty content in the show. Stuff like that would obviously detract from the essence of the play - it'd be terrible.
Here's the pic Helene posted
#2Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:05pmI get it, but the performer in me thinks that's ridiculous
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#2Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:07pmVery interesting. I worked at a theater one time that did a production of "Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune." One of the discussions the theater had was how to advertise the play. They weren't going to censor it in any way, but they were concerned about the "adult situations" in the play.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#3Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:12pm
They remove the F word but the killings and repeated use of a machine gun is OK?
Whatever
Poster Emeritus
#4Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:14pmI can't recall, is there a lot of f*cking uses of f*ck in this show? I can't remember any, but I don't care about this issue...
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#5Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:22pm
I guarantee the students have heard this word ( and worse) many times before
Sort of like a movie getting a R for language and a slasher movie for showing blood & guts all over the place is rated the same. Makes no sense
Poster Emeritus
LiveLoud22
Chorus Member Joined: 1/18/11
#6Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:29pm
I agree, Roxy. The middle/high schoolers they're bringing to the show have not only heard, but use every profane word you can think of. I think it's just a matter of educators needing to protect themselves from administrative trouble & parents.
Updated On: 4/17/14 at 12:29 PM
NiceWork2
Stand-by Joined: 4/2/14
#7Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:33pm
I thought that once a show was out of previews and past opening night everything in the show was "locked in", a final product. is this not always the case?
I know that after Gary Coleman tragically passed away and there was discussion that they may have had to eliminate Coleman's charater from Avenue Q they said that Lopez and marx would've inevitably had to make that difficult decision. How wonderful of Danielle thomas to provide that tribute to him after that night's fateful show.
#8Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:38pm
I thought that once a show was out of previews and past opening night everything in the show was "locked in", a final product. is this not always the case?
It's not. There's a period of time where it's frozen, but shows make changes after opening night all the time.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#9Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:40pmHow many times do they drop the F-bomb in Bullets? It's silly in that every kid has heard that word. I let that word slip in front of a 10-year-old actress and I apologized profusely. "Oh, that okay." she said. "I go to public school."
mrsyaj
Swing Joined: 4/17/14
#10Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:42pmI assume they're also cutting the joke about the character picking coins off a bar with her genitals.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#11Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:45pm
They cut the F word but leave the Hot Dog number in?
Curiouser & Curioser
Poster Emeritus
#12Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:46pmThe show is locked. They aren't creating a new version, just not saying f*ck on Wednesday afternoons. Most sentences work equally well without it.
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#13Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 1:01pm
"How many times do they drop the F-bomb in Bullets? It's silly in that every kid has heard that word. I let that word slip in front of a 10-year-old actress and I apologized profusely. "Oh, that okay." she said. "I go to public school."
I promise you that it's not for the sake of the students. It's for the sake of administrators and educators. No school - public or private - can rightfully approve of a school-wide field trip to a show that regularly uses 'vulgar language.'
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#14Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 1:14pm
Hell, my school district used to bus us to performances by the local regional theater where we saw fetuses getting thrown on the floor in THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO, so you'll have to pardon me if I find this a little reactionary.
Broadway. Getting more basic every day!
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#15Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 1:15pmA show that glorifies violence? Not exactly a message to be sent out. True it is all good clean fun but they should not come at all if we really want to be PC about it.
Poster Emeritus
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#16Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 1:44pmThe kiddies can still go to the Saturday matinee to hear it and than give it a rousing hand of applause.
Poster Emeritus
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#17Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 1:49pm
When I was in 11th Grade we went to see Evita. It wasn't mandatory, it was just whoever was taking an English Class taught by the Drama teacher could go.
So I guess "her only good parts are between her thighs, she should stare at the ceiling not reach for the skies, or she could be his last whore" isn't as bad as the F word? Because they certainly didn't leave that out when I saw it.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#18Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 1:52pmThose kiddies were probably ruined for life.
Poster Emeritus
#19Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 1:54pmI believe I was around five years old when I first heard my dad scream F*CK! after accidently hitting his thumb with a hammer. It changed my life.
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#20Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 2:25pmLiza, I'm sure you're correct. I thought I'd have problems with school performances of To Kill a Mockingbird, Big River and Of Mice and Men because of the N-word, but not a peep. I do question the educational/socio-political value of something like Bullets, which is what educators customarily look for in such field trips. Of all the shows on Bway (including of Mice and Men), why pitch this one to schools?
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#21Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 2:52pm
"Of all the shows on Bway (including of Mice and Men), why pitch this one to schools?"
Woody's looking for a new bride.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#22Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:42pm^ HAHA
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
TheatreFan4
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/12/09
#23Bullets removing the
Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:46pm
Really? This is just... dumb... I mean my school went to see Memphis which had quite a few F*CKS, "n*", and ended the first act with Felicia getting beaten nearly to death. I can't imagine the word F*CK is keeping away school groups.
Updated On: 4/17/14 at 04:46 PM
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
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