MCC and LaBute — Page 2

It's not that being a male in the theatre world puts you under suspicion- it's just that being a male whose recurring focus has been "men who hate women, and why, and how" now raises questions about where the art separates from the artist, and what that art says.

LaBute isn't as satirical about it as a lot of other writers- but I'm already wondering if Randy Newman, whose deliberately offensive but socially pointed satire traffics constantly in racism, sexism, homophobia, rape and petty prejudice, would be considered persona non grata today.

...Okay. Still not exactly sure what argument you're trying to make.

Kad said: I agree that MCC has not had a good history of representation in its programming history, but I give them credit for course correction in the last season- which is seeing work by or focused on women, people of color, and trans people. Cutting ties with LaBute- whatever the reason may be-is another step in the right direction for them.

Here's where "representation" becomes the problem it's trying to correct. Using the artistic work of women, people of color and trans people to deflect criticism of the fact that the theater's artistic leadership are three white men is called tokenism. The plays, though often worthy in themselves, are used as tokens of the theater's need to be seen as progressive. And the way MCC has just ended its 15 year championship of LaBute by dumping his play in the trash makes me seriously consider MCC's integrity.

Real change is structural and that means sharing powerful decisions at the top. And integrity means believing in artists enough to stick by them when they cease to be fashionable. That said, if LaBute's play was let go because of workplace sexual harassment then that's another issue. But to conflate LaBute's subject matter with actual sexual harassment is a good example of liberals acting as ignorantly as bigots.

Updated On: 2/16/18 at 02:28 PM

I generally quite enjoy MCC's programming. I'd much rather see a season of new American plays done well than a bunch of budget revivals (like the Roundabout). And although they don't program via quota ("1 Asian play? Check. 1 Latinx play? Check."*), I find their casting and hiring choices to be far from lily-white.

Updated On: 2/16/18 at 02:58 PM

As the Times wrote, director Leigh Silverman left this project several weeks ago; I imagine that there will be more news coming about LaBute.

And you're reading insincerity into actions in order to support yours. I don't even need to resort to citing rumors to back up the fact that an artistic difference is simply not handled in this way.