Supporting Audra's joke about being raped on-stage. — Page 2

I admit, I heard her say rape, and I flinched a bit. I've been a victim of sexual assault (not rape) and I know others who have been too.

That being said, it doesn't bother me. (Although, I can't speak on behalf of everyone else, this just my personal feelings towards the subject).

I think it's because it's said in the context of the character she's playing, and the show she's in.

I don't think she was being insensitive. I've seen worse things on the internet, when it comes to casually tossing the word rape around. Better yet, look at The Homecoming by Harold Pinter or any play that touches upon the not so nice things in human nature. To get one's panties in a twist over something an actress said in the moment versus the rest of what's out there, it doesn't make sense.

That's just my humble opinion, and all my opinions are humble.

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Updated On: 6/11/12 at 09:42 AM

It was a horrible, insensitive comment! I hope she apologizes for it today!

Fact: Audra's character is raped in Porgy and Bess.

Fact: Audra won the Tony for playing that character.

Fact: Because she won the Tony, she gets to make an acceptance speech.

Fact: In said acceptance speech, if she's mentioning everything her character does or that happens to her character, she has every right to mention being raped onstage. It's not insensitive in any way, shape or form, it's part of the play and she has every right to mention it.

This is so silly. Have we gone so far in the name of politically correctlness that someone can't say rape without it being a big brouhaha? She was referencing a scene is the show. It is hard for me to believe that anyone on this board who acts has not done the same. I just finished the run of a show in which my character suffered domestic violence. At the nightly fight call, we would joke that the other actor was ready to beat me up. Never did anyone advocate domestic violence by doing so.

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My thoughts: When did she make a joke? I didn't interpret her comments as a joke. As I said on another thread, "I really don't feel that McDonald was trying to trivialize rape. I think she was just noting how demanding the role was and her sense of being overwhelmed for winning an award for her portrayal of a character that undergoes such a demanding journey, including being raped on stage, eight times a week."

It wasn't a joke joke like L-O-L, but it definitely felt like she was trivializing it a bit.

Also, the people who just say "Stop being so PC!" are clearly misunderstanding what such a statement (as Audra's) can imply whether intentionally or (as is most certainly the cast) unintentionally. Have you ever called out a racist for a racist joke? Or a homophobe for a homophobic one? "Everyone's so damn PC nowaday" is their excuse too.

Also, henrik, no one is claiming that the portrayal of rape in the show is in poor taste, the issue people have is with Adura's comments. It sounded like "I love being raped on stage every night, thanks Philip!" As others have said, she could have easily said "I love working with Philip" rather than one she did say.

As I said earlier, no one at all thinks that Audra actually meant anything harmful or hurtful by it, but don't act like people who might find this offensive are being absurd.

Updated On: 6/11/12 at 12:10 PM

It was edgy so, of course, some people will be made uncomfortable by it. And that's a perfectly valid feeling. But I think Ms. MacDonald has nothing to apologize for, nor should she feel bad.

If you thought that was in bad taste, then what in God's name does anyone think of Val's line 'tied up and raped at 7' in A Chorus Line. Which IS a joke. And gets laughs.

"Also, henrik, no one is claiming that the portrayal of rape in the show is in poor taste, the issue people have is with Adura's comments. It sounded like "I love being raped on stage every night, thanks Philip!" As others have said, she could have easily said "I love working with Philip" rather than one she did say."

I understand no one is claiming that rape is objectionably presented in Porgy and Bess.

I was responding to the many posts, on this and other threads, that suggest an objection to the use of humor in relation to rape. Some of these posts register a per se objection whether the humorous reference to rape be onstage or off. Others express a specific objection to McDonald's speech.

I've endeavored to explain why I don't find McDonald's speech objectionable, and I've also expressed why I disagree that the use of humor in conjunction with a reference to rape - or to any other evil: murder, fascism, genocide - is objectionable as a rule.

To be clear, I am not suggesting that there are not many instances when horrors, including, of course, rape and other forms of sexual assault, are offensively, tastelessly or otherwise objectionably referenced. There are indeed. Nor am I suggesting that such objections - whether we agree with them or not - should be dismissed as mere "political correctness," as that term is commonly used to connote a kneejerk, facile or shortsighted oversensitivity.

I am merely stating my opinion that many horrific things can be addressed inoffensively - and even powerfully - with humor, both onstage and off. I find Ms. McDonald's speech - though clearly intended as glibness rather than as art - an instance of acceptably referencing rape with edgy wit, with no intent or effect of trivialization, legitimization or any other offensive consequence. Others clearly disagree.

Again, my arguments with respect to the humorous referencing of rape in other contexts, including musical comedy - Threepenny Opera, for instance - were in response to posts which, in addition to objecting to the acceptance speech, suggest and in some instances clearly argue that rape should never be discussed in a humorous manner.

Finally, I disagree that the acceptance speech in any way suggested that Audra McDonald attaches any pleasure to being raped. The pleasure an actor may take in playing a rape scene - or any other scene involving a moral degradation or social or personal evil - is inimical to the emotional and physical horrors of actually experiencing the event represented in the scene. Rather the pleasure alluded to is that of performing a challenging scene with, in this case, a partner who is giving a superb performance. To equate the experience of performing a rape scene to the experience of actually being raped, or of committing a rape, would be ludicrous. To me it was obvious that McDonald was merely humorously stating how much she loves playing Bess, in all its facets, opposite each of her leading men.

Updated On: 6/11/12 at 12:28 PM

Yet again you show your insensitivity about rape, qolbinau. I don't think Audra was making a "rape joke," but I do think the comment was not necessarily in the best of taste and it made me uncomfortable. I think it was probably something said "in the moment," which doesn't make it right but I don't think she should be crucified for it.

That said, those of you yelling about the PC police and those awful, awful feminists need to take a step back and realize that it is not your job to tell someone when they can and cannot be offended by something. If someone said something that offended you and you pointed it out and they told you that you were just being overly sensitive, I sincerely doubt that you would suddenly think that person was in the right.

I never said someone wasn't allowed to not be offended by something...obviously you have a right to your opinion, just like I have mine. However, there is a difference between not personally taking offense to something and mocking people who are, or calling them overly sensitive. It's straight-up not your (or anyone's) place to do that in any circumstance.

I personally don't think there is any such thing as a "good" rape or Holocaust joke (and yes I am also Jewish), but hey, maybe I'm just overreacting.

And again for the record I don't want to crucify Audra for what she said because I think other people have said far worse things that are more worthy of getting up in arms about. However, the attitude of many on this board towards rape and rape victims is truly disgusting, not just in this thread but in others (including the Darren Criss thread), and if you're going to put that out on the internet you deserve to be called out for your behavior. Simply not taking offense to something is different than constantly making jokes about it.

It's the BWW version of nipplegate!

And just as absurd as that entire circus was, so is this.

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"It sounded like "I love being raped on stage every night, thanks Philip!"

Wow. Someone either needs to clean out their ears or else take a basic course in listening comprehension. What a stretch!!!

If someone said, I can't think of a better person to get murdered by on stage every night than _______, would you people actually say the speaker is encouraging murder or even suggesting that being murdered is an OK thing? Come on, now. Some of you aren't even being sensible. If you couldn't tell Audra was speaking of "acting" and not the real thing, then perhaps you need to rethink your knowledge of what theatre is all about.

1. Hitler is the target of satire in THE PRODUCERS. No sane character says "I love Hitler."

2. Yes, Henrik, Brecht was misogynistic and also stole from his female collaborators. John Fuegi wrote a book about it (which doesn't mean Brecht wasn't also a great director, playwright and poet).

3. Unfortunately and until very recently, the American legal system had a history of treating rape as a joke, particularly if the victim was not a virgin and therefore had already squandered her market value. The system (and juries) found rape equally amusing (or merely inconsequential) if the victim was doing anything remotely provocative.

Audra McDonald made an unfortunate remark, made worse by phrasing it as if the rape were a real-life event ("I love being raped..." or "I'm lucky to be raped..."). I have to admit I joined in the cringing.

But nobody has suggested her award should be rescinded or her show should be boycotted. It was just an unfortunate turn of phrase (even if she has said it twice now).