Controversy over Ragtime...Opinions?

[crpatrick]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:21pm

Hi all-

A few days ago, a company in Wilmette, IL had a production of "Ragtime" sponsored by the Wilmette Park District closed by the park district's board. I've linked the article explaining the event below.

I just wanted to see what everyone's opinions are on the situation. The venue is an outdoor, free venue, and the board who had approved the production of "Ragtime" never read the script (nor knew of the climatic moments and words within the script). Upon hearing of the content, 2 weeks before opening, this same board closed the show down. Personally, it outrages me since the time and efforts of so many are now wasted, and I equate the closing of an art piece equivalent to burning a book available at the public library...the reasonings for closing the show complete counters the overriding message of racism within the show. They are engaging in complete censorship of what the public should and/or should not see. In any case, no more soap box :), I just wanted to put this question out there, and see what everyone in the theatre community thinks with regards to the situation.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1026361,ragtime062608.article

Chris

[matty159]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:32pm

Yeah, I am not cool with that either. Both the director and the actor that plays Coalhouse are correct. The usage of the word is important within the context of the show. To change or substitute the word would not only destroy the integrity of the piece, but would also take away it power. The argument from the park representative was pretty weak too - because someone might hear it over the sound system and get offended? If it did catch someone off guard, then hopefully that person would want to see where it came from and maybe, just maybe, see the show. All in all, pretty ridiculous.

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:37pm

It's Wilmette. This will give all sides something to self-righteously outraged about for weeks. Much more fun than actually watching a show.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:40pm

wait, the show got closed because of the word n*? the idiocy of that is deeper than any ocean.

[TBone]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:46pm

Show Boat is "upbeat and lighthearted"?

[whatever2]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:46pm

the head of the park district was not acting altogether mindlessly, but he obviously weighed the competing considerations completely wrong.

here's an idea: lower the amplification system for that sentence.

Updated On: 6/26/08 at 02:46 PM

[matty159]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:51pm

whatever2 - I hear what you are saying, and while not as bad as cancelling the show altogether, it is still making a concession out of censorship and would be blatantly obvious.

[crpatrick]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:52pm

It is funny you mentioned Show Boat TBone. The park district actually did that show a few years ago, and if memory serves correctly, there are a few uses of the offensive language throughout the show (though not as critical to the plot).

[TBone]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:57pm

Did you see the production, crpatrick? Did they alter any of the dialogue?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:59pm

What gets me pi$$ed is that you said the board didn't even bother reviewing the script before approving it. Had they did so, they could have just not approved of the production. It still would have been wrong, but at least no one would have already put hard work into rehearsing.

Posted: 6/26/08 at 2:59pm

n*s all work on de Mississippi,
n*s all work while de white folks play,

A lot of productions change it to Colored Folks but that's the original lyric to Old Man River.

[whatever2]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 3:01pm

i agree that what the park district did is censorship (to say nothing of stupidity), but i think there was a better way to balance the competing interests. i know that park -- definitely not outside the realm of possibility for some random person to walk by, hear the wrong word at wrong moment, and ... well ... cue reverend lovejoy's wife shrieking, "won't somebody think of the children?!?!?"

my compromise would solve the park district's problem without censoring the performance.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 3:05pm

Utterly ridiculous. I sincerely hope we get over this PC era of pleasing everybody. It's turning this country into a quagmire of imaginative mediocrity.

[crpatrick]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 3:05pm

Hey there TBone...I did not see it, but know people involved. I am interested now...I will have to ask if they did change the words (though, we probably would have heard if that was the case).

For millie_dillmount, that was my issue with the situation as well. I have been involved in productions with Wilmette on and off stage for years, and the board has never been proactive in anything (typically never seeing the shows even). Some of my closest friends are in this show, and they have just put so much hard work (and gas to travel to the suburb) into this show. Besides the censorship, it is just another way this group has dropped the ball by not reading the script and doing their jobs...they've wasted peoples times, and censored art.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 3:26pm

So I guess Summer 2009 they wont be doing RENT, Summer 2010 won't be doing La Cage (they wouldn't want people walking by and seeing men in women's clothing.."OH THE HUMANITY!") and Summer 2011 won't be doing The Producers as originally planned :-/
Bummer

Who do you have to **** to get a break in that town?

[roquat]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 3:42pm

It's not just that town. I know of a production of RAGTIME that almost didn't get on because Coalhouse's conduct in Act Two was considered "terrorism."(this was a few years ago--at least they read the friggin' script first.) The "n-word" caused complaints when it was used in a production of Michael John LaChuisa's FIRST LADY SUITE which I accompanied (for the record, it is used in that show by the black actress playing Marian Anderson, who is quoting a white racist protester.) And does anyone else remember tbe "Coalition to stop 'Show Boat'" when it was last revived? Censorship is alive and well in this country, and I'm afraid it always will be.

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:00pm

No. Censorship is the government forbidding specific political acts or speech. None of the examples listed are censorship. If Wilmette decides that they do not want to present a show that uses "that word" they are free to do so. The theater company involved is free to stage the show using their own funds or another sponsor.

It's funny that people on here are so eager to demand their right to use language that others find offensive, but in the same breath will scream bloody murder for posters who are anti-gay or hold differing political views be banned.

If you go see a show and one character calls another a Fag, you are free to go and complain. You can even tell that theater company you are so outraged you will never buy a ticket to their shows again, not even if they do an acclaimed revisal of "Carrie" next season. Likewise, if you're a taxpayer in Wilmette, call up the park district and tell 'em I want to see Ragtime! If more people say yay than nay, that new syncopation will be sweeping the North Shore in no time.

Wilmette isn't banning Ragtime, they just have decided that this isn't the kind of thing they want to support. Sure they are jerks for waiting so long and they are probably not too bright if they don't understand that this is an ANTI-Racist show, but they aren't censors and they aren't out of line to say "Thanks but no thanks."

Updated On: 6/26/08 at 04:00 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:08pm

You're right, it's not censorship...it's self-censorship which is infinitely worse and the ultimate goal of those that are "easily offended".

[Ryan4]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:14pm

"Do I like the word? No. But to pretend nobody said it is wrong..."

Bingo. Get with it, Illinois.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:18pm

For heaven's sake, the director is black. It's not like they're doing a minstrel show, here.

And Showboat was okay? Heck, it features interracial marriage laws. From what I've read, the word "miscegenation" is considered pretty similar to the n-word in terms of offensiveness.

Updated On: 6/26/08 at 04:18 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:23pm

My old high school director has wanted to do Ragtime for a while. The school board wanted him to change things like that and he would not. He felt it would not be authentic to the time, and I agree. Ragtime is supposed to illustrate a time in American culture and changing things would not illustrate that.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:23pm

Chris I already PMed you my thoughts but I think its outrageous that they did this. I am saddened I wont be seeing the show now and I feel terrible for the cast which I had friends involved with. I think the idea of censoring this masterpiece are pathetic.

[Ryan4]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:28pm

This reminds me of that high school in New Jersey that wanted to do The Laramie Project and was shut down by the Board of Ed...the community was so vocal it eventally went up...but it's an odd little trend lately, no? Shows that espouse equality and freedom getting censored and shut-down.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:30pm

School Boards are annoying and dumb. My old high school had to fight over doing Songs for a New World. The board did not like the music and had some very poor excuses, in the end they lost.

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 4:35pm

"School Boards are annoying and dumb."
Would you prefer having a state dept. of ed. taking it over? Lesser of two evils, dear.