Rachel Corrie is cancelled
Rachel Corrie is cancelled
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/16/06
Rachel Corrie is cancelled#1
Posted: 3/30/07 at 10:54pm
"The Mosaic Theatre Board of Directors announced today that the production of My Name is Rachel Corrie has been canceled. The Board wholeheartedly believes in the artistic and educational merit of this production. However, there are a myriad of complex factors that sadly prevent us from presenting this controversial work. Mosaic Theatre has always produced thought provoking plays designed to challenge and enrich people's lives but numerous conflicts have arisen and the associated risks appear too great for our community, and our Angel Sponsor, American Heritage School."
It's very very very sad that this kind of thing happens. It seems that free speech isn't as important to people today as it was before.
With free speech disappearing and civil liberties vanishing as well, I'm reminded of what Benjamin Franklin said, and what was quoted in 1776.
"Those who would give up their liberty for a little temporary security deserve neither and will lose both"
"Fenchurch is correct, as usual." - muscle23ftl
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#2
Posted: 3/31/07 at 1:04amWell, at least you're not in Thailand!
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/03
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#2
Posted: 3/31/07 at 1:59amHow is this a free speech issue?
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#3
Posted: 3/31/07 at 1:33pm
In the original director's notes (which I found cached, as they had been taken down from the website), the director said the following
Since my announcement of our April/May production of My Name is Rachel Corrie , I have received dozens of phone calls and e-mail correspondence chronicling reasons why I should not do this play...
Tying that in with what's said in statement announcement that Fenchurch provided (" However, there are a myriad of complex factors that sadly prevent us from presenting this controversial work. Mosaic Theatre has always produced thought provoking plays designed to challenge and enrich people's lives but numerous conflicts have arisen and the associated risks appear too great for our community, and our Angel Sponsor, American Heritage School.") I can see where he thinks it's a speech issue. I guess technically it's more about voluntary censorship, though.
Inside Mosaic Theatre
Stand-by Joined: 2/2/07
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#4
Posted: 4/1/07 at 9:57pm
If I recall correctly, after the hullabub, hullabaloo and hubub died down, it ended up being quite the panned play.
Think this would have happened had the play gotten nicer reviews?
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/20/05
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#5
Posted: 4/2/07 at 12:35am
There was an issue over a theatre not doing the play and it was alleged that there was pressure from Jewish theatre supporters. Was it NYTW that cut it from its season or just indefinitely "delayed" it or something and it got moved to another theatre. Because Corrie took the part of Palestianians as to their Israeli conflict. And obviously because she was run over by an Israeli bulldozer.
I thought she was crazy to get in front of one of those huge bulldozers they knock down buildings with, whatever her politics. I suppose she thought it was an act of civil disobedience, but that kind of approach has to be organized en masse to have any effect. I just haven't leapt to see the play; I don't see how it can be very two-sided when you have a dead girl. More like a eulogy.
Stand-by Joined: 12/21/06
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#6
Posted: 4/2/07 at 10:58am
the play should be performed regardless of political implications. its not an outright anti Semitic tract or some other offensive garbage, and thus this semi-censorship stuff is not only scary for its implications on our society, but also downright stupid.
that said, people didnt like the play that much. it wasnt a "hit" I dont think, it didnt ignite the issue, and certainly not the box office so... enough. and thats WITH all the added publicity! i thought it was decent at best but VERY sanctimonious and one sided.
its hard to sit in a theater and listen to someone pontificate about the palestinian issue without ever addressing terrorism whatsoever in a meaningful way, without ever discussing the real history of WHY Gaza is the way it is (egypt, arafat, hamas...) it just came off hollow and childlike.
Stand-by Joined: 2/2/07
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#7
Posted: 4/2/07 at 11:03amOne-sidedness or not, the main complaint I felt like I heard was that it wasn't theatrically worthwhile. That as a piece of Theatre, it simply failed.
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#8
Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:36pm
I think this was actually quite a an interesting piece. It was well thought out and simply presented. It wasn't preachy, just simple. the purpose was to tell this one girls story, it was never politically in your face.
Well directed and well acted.
Just my thoughts. xx
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#9
Posted: 4/2/07 at 10:30pmThis play has not caught on because it's not an interesting play. It is made up of excerpts from the diary of a person who wasn't a good writer.
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#10
Posted: 4/2/07 at 10:49pmIt was a total flop here in NYC, critically and financially. The entire run was comped up the wazoo. It was on all of the papering services for the entire run.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/16/06
re: Rachel Corrie is cancelled#11
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:04am
It seems as thought this piece, like all pieces that go on to have a longer life in societal consciousness for whatever reasons, it has its hard core detractors and its hard core fans.
The best pieces, in my opinion, always illicit the strongest responses.
it's a shame no one in Fla will get to see this piece.
It's a shame too when theaters have to close productions because of so-called "Risks"
Censorship through anonymity, it's a fairly frightening concept
"Fenchurch is correct, as usual." - muscle23ftl
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