Censorship and Local Theatre

During the recent voting for favorite stage shows, my pal (and local actor and artist) Ryan Hardiman sent in a comment that included a brief editorial about censorship and community theatre. I thought it was definitely worth more discussion. Here's his comment:

<< ... I'm not saying we need to always be safe...we're often too safe. I'd love to see us stretch... I believe the best theatre should provoke, which is not necessarily the same as being offensive. It's interesting to me what most people will watch and accept in a film, yet are afraid to put on the stage. I'd like to explore that as a topic sometime and get the theatre community's feelings about why that is. I remember doing "South Pacific" a few years ago where the decision was made to change every "Damn" to "Darn" in the songs "Nothing Like a Dame" and "Bloody Mary"... it was just odd and unnecessary. I mean, it's Rodgers and Hammerstein! And it's not just language... it just seems in general that if a show is not absolutely squeaky clean and happy, it's dangerous territory for us.

Anyway, sorry about the soapbox. >>

No need for apology, Ryan - you raise a very good point. It's a bit of a touchy subject, because community theatre groups regularly make little edits to scripts to try to avoid offending someone in the audience - and certainly our area is a bit more conservative when it comes to language and adult themes on stage.

And we're not the only offenders in that area - I've received copies of scripts that had been used by groups in other states where entire scenes have been crossed out and obviously were not included in the show.

I've certainly seen alterations happen in local shows. Perhaps it's understandable for children's theatre or church shows. Perhaps we worry too much about not offending people in the audience - there's always someone who will get offended over almost anything, even the most innocent innuendo.

Still, you'd think an adult theatre group wouldn't worry about changing "Hell" to "Heck" or "Damn" to "Darn," but I've certainly seen it happen - sometimes just as a production is about to take the stage.

So readers, what do you think? Is a little censorship ok, or should the plays be left in their original form? As Ryan says, you'll certainly see and hear worse things in movies. Should local theatre groups be a little more daring in their presentations? Send us your comments!