Bad press today in the Newnan Times-Herald's Sound Off:
NOT A COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE: We went to see "Death of a Salesman" at the Newnan Theatre Company and was appalled at the cursing used constantly throughout the play. One offensive phrase was used 11 times and put a sour taste into a classic tragedy.
I'm sorry the writer didn't enjoy the show due to the swearing, but the play was performed as written. Yes, even in 1949, Arthur Miller put swearing in a play.
When we agree to produce a play, we sign a contract with a licensing company. Part of that contract says that a play must be performed as written. Of course, actors slip now and then with a word or phrase or two. But we certainly aren't going to put in swear words and certainly not 11 times.
I sincerely hope the writer of the complaint didn't think we added the swearing. Maybe they didn't know the play included it or remembered it differently.
We have a mix of plays. Some are going to appeal to all, some to none, a few to some. Some coming up are family friendly (Brer Rabbit Stories, The Secret Garden, Miracle on 34th Street). Some are not (Cabaret, Psycho Beach Party). And then there are plays that deal with some harsh realities that aren't necessarily going to be fun to watch (Dog Sees God).
Should we perform only shows that are family friendly? And where do shows like Romeo & Juliet fall?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending profanity. I personally don't like swearing. I did see Death of a Salesman, and none of the swearing was out of context or gratuitous. The lead character was losing his mind and eventually commits suicide. I'm sorry this person had a bad experience at our theatre. Death of a Salesman was performed as written and the performances were amazing.
Tell me what you think.
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7 comments:
Diane,
I think your response is pitch-perfect. The great things about living in a free country include the freedom to put a variety of material on stage, and the freedom of others to not attend if they find it not to their taste.
I, for one, am glad to be a season ticket holder. I am also particularly glad that I can experience a variety of well-performed content at a local theater.
I neither share the opinion of the sound-off writer nor their desire to censor Miller's (or any other playwright's) words.
But Dianne, they was appalled! And they want people to know it! That's all that matters!
Myself, I is appalled at the ignorance so displayed.
Mayhap there should be a sign in the lobby repeating your point about contracts word for word?
While I agree that they are being upset at something little, and it should not be censored, I must say it is NOT true that directors are not aloud to change the script or add to it. I have directed, been in, and helped with tech for plays that have all had directers alter the script. We kept in the cussing, yes. It's not a big deal, yes. Do we have to keep it in? No.
Legally, you are NOT allowed to change a script. Not only do you sign a contract when you are applying for the rights, but the disclaimer is in the front of any script that you pick up. It is technically copyright infringement and you can be sued by the playwright or licensing company. When you put that author's name on the poster, you are telling the audience that he or she wrote those words, therefore you cannot change what was there. There are very few exceptions to that rule. Things like Shakespeare, which are not licensed, can be altered as they are public domain. However, Death of a Salesman is not public domain.
Oh, I'm not saying that we're not "suppose" to do it. I'm just saying every play I've ever been in has had a director add/remove something.
It's just another one of those things directors should be more cautious of, I guess. And thanks Sarah, I actually have never noticed that disclaimer in the front of a script and never had it pointed out to me, so I appreciate learning that.
The true measure of an artist is not how he writes but how he perceives. The true measure of an audience member is not what they expect to see but how they react to what is seen. Sometimes those who attend a performance must realize that individual interpretations may vary and it is these interpretations that can contain subject matters both good and bad. To leave comments to a single person's viewpoint and let those comments influence your behavior would be doing injustice to both author and characters. Yes there may have been some language but nothing less than what you could find flipping through the television channels or seeing a movie. We do not live in a Disney world, we live in the real world and it is that real world that this play tries to harness for the audience. It is regretful that there may have been someone in the audience who felt slighted by the dialogue and its contents but it is also regretful that this person seems to want to judge a single group or performance based on what was heard by the ear and not based on what was seen by the mind or spirit.
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