Is a lead actor's personal politics a good enough reason to avoid seeing a show?- Page 4

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 9:30pm

For me, when it comes to Barbour, it's not that he committed a crime, it's the crime he committed, which was skeevy and gross.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/1/10 at 9:53pm

Talkin, earlier you said that you don't know how one can Boycott AZ. This past week the Denver School District banned all work related trips to AZ because of the new law.

[snarkywannabedreamer]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 11:46am

this is my two cents...

If your own political beliefs are so fragile that you have to ask a stupid message board whether you should act on them or not then they really aren't strong enough warrant boycotting a show... or acting out in any political way frankly. Grow a pair and decide for yourself if you can stomach his politics enough to watch a drag queen musical!

[nycfan2]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 12:57pm

What amazes me is that people who think this topic is "silly" or "moronic" or feel that I "need to grow a set" all took the time to respond. What started out as what I thought was a thoughtful query into personl ethics has spawned approximately 67 responses and some quite vitriolic. Interesting study in social dynamics, low self esteem, one upsmanship, anger for no reason, inflammatory prose, and downright rudeness. Little people with too much time.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 1:10pm

I think it's a spectacular thread. One of the best discussions ever on BroadwayWorld. Thanks for starting it.

[nycfan2]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 1:16pm

Thanks for all the input. There are several messages in this thread that got the purpose of the original post. Many of you think me stupid, but I guess that's your opinion. Sorry to have offended you so much (not really - pr apology here). Nevertheless, I have friends who watch where they spend their money because it is the only real power they have (you can use the ballot, but as we are seeing in real time- promising something and delivering are two different things so how powerful is your vote?). One athiest friend of mine will not purchase cable tv because part of the fee underwrites religious broadcasting. He also does not shop at Hobby Lobby or Chik-fil-a (chain with christian owners who order the franchises closed on Sundays). Now, Grammer (I've been mispelling his name, sorry) is taking a strong stand for his beliefs and that is his right. But I don't have to endorse them, buy any product he's selling, or see any show that he's in. Whether I do or not is as you say my decision But at least I didn't ask you to tell me to see A Little Night Music versus the Adams Family. So, I'm really finished with this thread now.

I'm on my way to NYC on Wednesday, staying in Times Square area, and hoping not to be blown up. I'm priveledged to have a job that gives me lots of vacation days and enough money to invest in what I love. Broadway theatre. Call me stupid or moronic, but I am financially supporting big time all of the Broadway Community with hotel nights, meals, and six show tickets. Won't be my only trip during the year either.

[winston89]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 1:22pm

I would go with Night Music over Addams Family without any question.

I guess in the end people have their own views of who they would see in a show or who they wouldn't and why. Personally for me, I was okay with seeing Barbour in Tale of Two Cities more then once due to the fact that I am of the mindset that he admitted to screwing up, served his time and didn't need to be raked across hot coals any further.

Whereas, despite my real interest in wanting to see Blithe Spirit due to those involved with the cast, there was still one name that couldn't get me to walk to the box office of The Shubert to buy at ticket. And, that was Ebersole. I just couldn't do it because her political views are WAY to out there for me.

[nealb1]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 1:51pm

I was in Times Square last night when the police started closing it off. This was around 7:15pm, and my show wasn't cancelled. Saw "Little Night Music" last night - LOVED IT!

No, you shouldn't not see a show because of what you may or may not know about a performer's personal views, etc. Doing that, is the same thing that you are accusing the performer of being/doing - prejudice, etc...

Winston89, so because you disagree with someone's views, that's going to stop you from seeing a show? What way out there stuff don't you agree with?

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 2:25pm

'Sorry to have offended you so much (not really - pr apology here)."

Again, like your original question, why bother? If you don't mean an apology, why tender one? If your intention was originally to produce discussion, fine - but you asked for opinions. I don't think you're stupid or moronic, but I'll stand by my statement that I think it's silly (unfortunate you find that offensive, but it's my opinion) to to not see a show because of one performer's politics, which by your own admission, you aren't fully informed of.

Thanks for supporting broadway and welcome back.

[winston89]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 2:45pm

nealb1, There are people who would refuse to see a Polanski film and I can see why, there are people who are theatre fans that refuse to go see a show/concert involving Barbour and I can respect that too. The point that I am trying to make is that people have different reasons as to why they won't/will see a show based upon a given performer. And, while others may agree with someone's reasons others of course may not. And, overall they should all be respected.

For me, Ebersole was very convinced that 9/11 was an inside job cooked up by Bush as a a way for him to go to invade Afaganastan/Iraq. Now, she is allowed to go to protests and chant "9/11 is an inside job." ( saw a scary youtube video of a Grey Gardens obsessed fan who thought that anything that came out of her mouth, including this, was like it was coming out of the mouth of the lord himself.) But, if your a semi public figure, then you have to be careful about what you do because your actions or your words can effect how people might view you in the long run. Someone like Ebersole is not just a Broadway name, there are people who still remember her from her SNL days.

[pacificnorthwest]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 3:07pm

Thank you nycfan2 for not just raising the question but holding your own here, both from people with thoughtful responses and those who prefer to name-call or elevate your query to "bigotry." As I also tried to express when I posed the same question, political opinions/party affiliation are one thing, and we'd all probably deprive ourselves of lots of fine art and entertainment if we decided we wouldn't see shows with performers with whom we disagree. Which is NOT what either you or I are suggesting. WHEN a person makes his politics so public, so much so that in Grammer's case he is making a sales pitch for a new right-wing TV network, you and I and anyone else who finds that repugnant has every right to decide whether we want to financially support him.

I had purchased my La Cage ticket before I knew he was doing the spokesman bit, and I made the terrible error on these boards of suggesting that I might not have bought a ticket had I known. I enjoyed the show, as I knew I would. That wasn't the point. I had the bonus experience of being there a week ago tonight when the soundboard died for about 15-20 minutes, and Grammer entertained us with some chatting and a joke. He was funny and gracious and I found myself wondering how he reconciled that side of himself with his political opinions.

And before people jump in once again and say that he's not an anti-gay conservative, well, that's great. But that's far from the only issue separating liberals and conservatives today. Supporting economic policies -- or the lack of them - - that have created the greatest wealth/poverty divide in modern history, that have left families homeless, without medical care, with schools forced to cut budgets so drastically that there are 30 and 40 students per teacher.... the list is just about endless and for us "commie pinkos," as any thinking liberal gets labeled today, it's a tragedy.

[Weez]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 3:13pm

What the bananas...?! I love how the ads on this site pick up on random words to select a banner. I NEVER thought I'd see Nick Clegg's shining little face gleaming at me from BroadwayWorld of all places! XD

Anyway! Let's stop tossing the word "bigot" around; to do so can have pretty extreme consequences. Just ask Gordon Brown. His final chances at possibly getting to still be in Number 10 this time next week have gone RIGHT down the toilet, thanks to being caught using the "b" word.

Yay, my favourite things in one place: the UK 2010 general election, and Broadway! Except I've got all stuck on the election and now have to try and get my brain back on-topic. O_O

Anyway! This is something you can only decide for yourself. I can't imagine myself ever choosing to not see a show because of a performer's politics, even if they fill their bio with "I owe it all to Mum, Dad, Jesus, and the BNP". But that's my decision, to decide for myself whether I want to see a show regardless of a performer's personal politics, or whether their politics are so repulsive to me that I personally do not want to pay my money to see them in action. It's a personal choice for all of us.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I've figured out how to get my local Labour candidate to stop following me on Twitter.

[Marinacat]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 5:26pm

I think the problem with this question is that the premise lies in the fact that the actor in question has political leanings that are not so controversial. It's very easy to criticize the OP if your political leanings are not that far off from the star's.

If the actor was completely against gay marriage, pro "family values", anti-gun control and was very outspoken about all of the above, there might be some people who would opt not to line his pocket and hope to have him potentially, play to a half full house.

[nealb1]

Posted: 5/2/10 at 5:52pm

Winston, thanks for letting me know about Christine. I had no idea she felt that way. It won't hinder my decision about seeing her in concert, or in a show.