Offensive language from Broadway shows as it applies to community theatre

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 4/25/09 at 11:59am

Ok, So I'm assuming that most of you don't have this problem being that you DON'T live in God-country BUT, I had a discussion with someone today about a few lines from Big: the Musical which my community theatre in West Virginia is doing. She was offended because Billy Kopecki, Josh Baskin's friend, says the word asshole.. and she was more offended that he said it twice! YIKES?! Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? In my opinion these are people that I don't want coming to the theatre anyway. I believe theatre is there to challenge social norms and to break from convention. Not to bow down to it.

ARGH!! Anyone?

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 4/25/09 at 12:49pm

This is a decades-old argument: Are community theatres obligated to honor the creative team's product, or entertain their customers without offending them?

Some writers just want their work produced and have no problem with people taking out offensive language or even entire scenes, and some will balk at even the notion of changing a single word.

But the question of SHOULD you change it even if you can is ultimately up to the producer and director of the show. They need to decide what their demographic is, and if changing things really does avoid confrontation or if they're just insulting their audience by assuming a little cursing will damage them.

I respect whatever choice a theatre makes (as long as it's compliant with the writer's wishes), but my own personal opinion is that if you don't like something just the way it's written, then go write something yourself.