Legally Blonde censored @ Kansas college

[Svetlana]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:32pm

Newman University's production of "Legally Blonde" faced criticism and censorship just before its run started last weekend. The uproar from the theatre department and local theatre community has begun a discussion about legality and the ethics of censoring the arts. Students fought the power for their final two performances and did the show uncensored, but the battle is far from over. Where is the line?

http://www.newmanvantage.com/2014/11/20/legally-blonde-censorship-rankles-cast-members/

Updated On: 11/24/14 at 12:32 PM

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:32pm

Also...if they made changes they weren't authorized to make...it has legal ramifications.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:45pm

How sad that this happened at a university.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:48pm

But did they keep the gay stuff? When I first saw the headline, that's what I thought this would be about, but the article doesn't say.

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 2:27pm

Even if they kept the gay stuff, they've changed it by changing the tone of the show and, therefore, the context of the scene. It could now seem less obviously accepting of gay people without the satirical candor of the other lines.

So glad to know this "school" trusts its students to think for themselves. Goodness - just to think if the alert administrators hadn't clamped down promptly, no telling how many of its graduates might have learned about masturbation or become confused about whether lawyers are supposed to be corrupt.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 2:35pm

It begs the question, if they had to keep their show relatively family friendly, why did they pick that show to begin with? There are numerous lighthearted and fun musical comedies that would need no censorship whatsoever.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 2:46pm

Let's make it BWW's resolution for 2015 that we learn what the phrase "begs the question" means before it becomes like "literally" which now means "figuratively."

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 2:50pm

Oops, sorry.

I do have a tendency to throw about figurative language with no true comprehension of what it's really trying to say. "It makes one wonder" would have been better.

Updated On: 11/24/14 at 02:50 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 2:53pm

It is a Catholic university, so not just a standard issue university. Which begs the question what their science textbooks look like...

[kdogg36]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 3:46pm

I went to Catholic school for many years, from kindergarten through grad school. While I am not a Catholic and have many deep disagreements with the church, I can honestly say that, in science class, I never learned anything other than evolution by natural selection, the Big Bang, and other aspects of modern scientific consensus.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 3:50pm

"The changes involved taking out any sexually derogatory remarks, references to sex and drugs, any use of the word “Christ,” and most all cursing."

Man, that sounds boring.

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 3:50pm

kdogg-Ditto on that Catholic school experience.

I don't see what's so questionable about "Legally Blonde" (aside from the gay part towards the end). Most of it is harmless comedy.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 3:59pm

The gay part is questionable? Get back in that time machine and switch the controls from 1967 to the 21st century!

[rjm516]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 4:33pm

Oh how I would love if they/anyone similarly censoring shows got sued over the unlicensed changes.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 4:35pm

I saw a high school production of this show that was censored. The gay thing was not changed at all. I can however attest that watching this show censored is a very dull and flat experience. They even cut "Ireland" for some reason (maybe the part about beer?). About 3 months later I saw it at a very well respected community theater. It was a million times better. The show soars with it's mild vulgarity.

[Comden Green]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 4:45am

" show soars with it's mild vulgarity."

Too funny. Should be an advertising blurb outside the theatre. That would bring them in.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 5:50am

Directed this at my high school. Didn't change a thing. Some people were offended. We had record breaking audiences.

[Svetlana]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:33am

Howard Sherman's expertly covered this story.

http://ow.ly/ERQ7p

[JayG 2]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:42am

It should be banned --- forever! For being an utter piece of garbage !!

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 12:37am

Well, you'd better alert the Olivier Award committee in London -- they gave it Best Musical.

At least the administrators at Newman College agree with you (that is, assuming you aren't one.)