Homophobia alive and well in Texas theatre audiences

[4thRowAsile]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:15am

As reported by a cast member in Road Show at Stages Theatre in Houston last night (5/31). Please send a note to the theatre to show your support for this show and speak out against those small-minded, hate-filled patrons.

"During ROAD SHOW at Stages Repertory Theatre, four angry patrons left the theatre during our beautiful little play because two men fall in love. Now, the cast often enters from the house, and as they left, they happened to pass one of the gentlemen in question who plays Hollis Bessamer (the fantastic Michael Prescott McClure). After making a disparaging comment to his face (and right before his entrance! Is there no end to it?!), they told house management, again within earshot of the cast, that Mr. Sondheim and Mr. Weidman's play "should have a disclaimer on it because there are relationships that people might find inappropriate." They went on to say that they had seen many shows at the theatre, and they were "very disappointed"."
Road Show at Stages Theatre

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:18am

Aren't they allowed to have their opinion on things? (The talking to the actor is inappropriate.)

[gchris11]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:21am

I was at F*cking Up Everything a few weeks ago and some thing similar happend. It is not just a Texas thing. Homophobia rears it ugly head here too.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:22am

I remember a huge stink in Dallas when Romeo and Juliet was performed by an all male cast. I forget the details, but it sounds like the audience members didn't do their research. Maybe the bigots should stick with shows they know.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:44am

Aren't they allowed to have their opinion on things?

Of course, but we can - and in this case, definitely should - judge them very harshly for it.

[artscallion]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:44am

"Aren't they allowed to have their opinion on things?"

True drama. But that allowance is not exclusive to them. The reverse is true in that others are allowed to have their opinion of these people. Allowing someone to have an opinion does not mean you have to sit back and not respond to it.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:45am

God only knows what'll happen when Priscilla rolls into town....

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:48am

^dramamama,

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:49am

People tend to be better with stereotypical gays and drag queens. But when genuine emotion is displayed between two men, well that's when Bubba & Erlene freak out.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:52am

I always question incidents like this. How much is real and how much is staged for publicity sake?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:01am

Like Mike Daisey's audience storm out at ART, it reads a bit different when you read the panicked youth leader's side of the story. Then again, Mike Daisey.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:06am

This happened in Houston and Houston's Congresswoman is Sheila Jackson-Lee, so it's not like it's a hotbed of Puritan Amish.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:12am

But Houston is still in Texas. Only Austin isn't.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:16am

See I heard that Dallas was part of Texas but Fort Worth wasn't.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:24am

This story was concocted for publicity.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:52am

Let me state, as most of you know, I am a 100% supporter of gay rights in all forms. I guess my point is: 4 people being uncomfortable with something they had no idea they were going to see shouldn't be all that suprising, and maybe not even upsetting.

Just to use an analogy, I have no problem with folks that are into S&M, doesn't mean I'd feel comfortable watching a movie or play about it. I don't care about what any consenting adults do behind closed doors -- doesn't mean I want to see it.

(However, I am a sensible person, and I would keep my mouth shut over it, even if I chose to leave.)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:52am

Lhead, it's that kind of original thinking that has made you a beloved contributor in just three short days. How DO you come up with your ideas?

Updated On: 5/31/13 at 11:52 AM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:57am

AUSTIN IS IN TEXAS, what the heck are you talking about Nemo? We're more liberal than most surrounding communities, that is for sure.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:57am

(I've been waiting for someone to figure out who that actually is, ChiChi???)

[AngusN]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 12:00pm

However Dramamama, the analogy is futile, as S&M is a lifestyle choice. Homosexuality is not.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 12:03pm

Austin is not in TX. He's in San Francisco last time I checked.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 12:04pm

You're very literal, PLuPF.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 12:05pm

I didn't say it was perfect.

I know people that are uncomfortable watching any sort of sexuality....they feel sex scenes should never be anything other than private....doesn't mean they are against people having sex.


(And I would suggest, that most people that are drawn to S&M might not agree....I would suspect that that, too, is inate.)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 12:06pm

1.) It is because allowing people who have thoughts and opinions and who behave like that to go unchecked that allows we as gay and lesbian America to live as second class citizens. Everyone has an opinion, but it does not make every opinion acceptable.

2.) Priscilla has already had problems in Texas. During their stop in Dallas, they had a local wardrobe woman quit the second day of the run, saying that her religious beliefs wouldn't allow her to work on a show like that. Clearly, she must have known what the show was, or so I would think.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 12:08pm

She's a local wardrobe woman in Texas. Why would we presume she knows anything at all?