Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Almost, Maine

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JGrigsby
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Topic: Almost, Maine - Final Pairing of Dave and Rhonda
Posted: 9/30/13 at 5:43pm

Help!

So, I selected Almost, Maine as my fall show here at the high school. Now, I'm second guessing the scene with Rhonda and Dave - the intense kissing and stripping of each other to their long johns.

The guidance counselor was in my classroom a little bit ago and read the scene and thinks it's too much. A church near my school did this play a few months ago. Schools all over the country are doing Almost, Maine. Has anyone received and turmoil for that scene with high school kids. I admit the innuendo is heavy, but I have it set with two seniors who work well with one another. Thoughts ... suggestions? Insight? I don't want to pull the plug on this show, especially since we're short on rehearsal time this year. We had to bump the show up three weeks due to sports conflicts.

Love y'all! Thanks!!

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edh915
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Posted: 9/30/13 at 11:23pm

Slide over to You Tube and look at a few of the clips they have listed for this segment. It "plays" a lot less suggestively than it might "read" - especially when they've got on three or four layers of clothes. The kissing doesn't have to be "intense", and the humor in shedding the clothes lies mainly in the long process of removing the multiple layers. I've never heard of any blow-back over Rhonda and Dave. I would expect a bigger possibility of fuss over the Randy and Chad scene. But please don't let that stop you. This is a wonderful play that deserves to be seen.

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JGrigsby
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Posted: 10/01/13 at 8:12am

Thank you. I try and stay away from YouTube so I can let me creative juices flow without comparing my work to the work of others. But, I had to give it a look. You're right - it does play out much funnier than sexy. Thank you. I hope there's no guff given for Chad and Randy, but I'll wait until that moment happens. Thank you again. The show will go on.

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edh915
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Posted: 10/01/13 at 4:49pm

When does the play go up? I'm close enough to you, I might be able to come see it.

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JGrigsby
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Posted: 10/04/13 at 9:36am

Our show dates are Nov. 22, 23, and 24. But, a parent complaint was made yesterday about the last scene. It was an anonymous parent complaint saying, "Some of the students are uncomfortable with the last scene." I now have to send a YouTube clip to the principal. It's moments like these that make me want to quit doing what I do.

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JGrigsby
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Posted: 10/04/13 at 11:19am

And now ... it's been asked if I can change the scene to where it doesn't suggest that people in love end up in bed together. I go through something in every play. Even when I did Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, I had to change the diamond studded bra to something else. I couldn't let students say bra. Why ... why do I go through this all the time?

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JGrigsby
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Posted: 10/04/13 at 12:35pm

And now I'm learning that there are people in the community upset with the fact there's a gay couple in the play ... as you said I might experience, edh915.

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Majicwrench
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Posted: 10/04/13 at 1:25pm

I feel your pain. Trying to please everyone never works. I'm in a diff situation, I listen politely and then do things my way. I sincerely appreciate peoples comments and concerns, but......

Good luck, strength to ya. Let us know.

Keith

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JGrigsby
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Posted: 10/04/13 at 1:34pm

Thank you, Keith. I have a meeting after school to discuss this. I'll keep my friends and theater family on here posted.

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donzolidis
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Posted: 10/04/13 at 3:59pm

Look, obviously if the kids discover there are gay people in the play they might discover there are gay people in real life, and that would do irreparable harm to them.

Just as they couldn't be permitted to discover that there are bras in the world. Think of the horrors that could've unleashed!

Stay strong. Hopefully it will all work out!

www.donzolidis.com

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Topic: Almost, Maine - Final Pairing of Dave and Rhonda
	Page of 3 Next >>

Author	Message
JGrigsby Lead Joined: 6/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Topic: Almost, Maine - Final Pairing of Dave and Rhonda Posted: 9/30/13 at 5:43pm
	Help! So, I selected Almost, Maine as my fall show here at the high school. Now, I'm second guessing the scene with Rhonda and Dave - the intense kissing and stripping of each other to their long johns. The guidance counselor was in my classroom a little bit ago and read the scene and thinks it's too much. A church near my school did this play a few months ago. Schools all over the country are doing Almost, Maine. Has anyone received and turmoil for that scene with high school kids. I admit the innuendo is heavy, but I have it set with two seniors who work well with one another. Thoughts ... suggestions? Insight? I don't want to pull the plug on this show, especially since we're short on rehearsal time this year. We had to bump the show up three weeks due to sports conflicts. Love y'all! Thanks!!

	IP Logged

edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 9/30/13 at 11:23pm
	Slide over to You Tube and look at a few of the clips they have listed for this segment. It "plays" a lot less suggestively than it might "read" - especially when they've got on three or four layers of clothes. The kissing doesn't have to be "intense", and the humor in shedding the clothes lies mainly in the long process of removing the multiple layers. I've never heard of any blow-back over Rhonda and Dave. I would expect a bigger possibility of fuss over the Randy and Chad scene. But please don't let that stop you. This is a wonderful play that deserves to be seen.
	IP Logged

JGrigsby Lead Joined: 6/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Posted: 10/01/13 at 8:12am
	Thank you. I try and stay away from YouTube so I can let me creative juices flow without comparing my work to the work of others. But, I had to give it a look. You're right - it does play out much funnier than sexy. Thank you. I hope there's no guff given for Chad and Randy, but I'll wait until that moment happens. Thank you again. The show will go on.
	IP Logged

edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 10/01/13 at 4:49pm
	When does the play go up? I'm close enough to you, I might be able to come see it.
	IP Logged

JGrigsby Lead Joined: 6/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Posted: 10/04/13 at 9:36am
	Our show dates are Nov. 22, 23, and 24. But, a parent complaint was made yesterday about the last scene. It was an anonymous parent complaint saying, "Some of the students are uncomfortable with the last scene." I now have to send a YouTube clip to the principal. It's moments like these that make me want to quit doing what I do.
	IP Logged

JGrigsby Lead Joined: 6/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Posted: 10/04/13 at 11:19am
	And now ... it's been asked if I can change the scene to where it doesn't suggest that people in love end up in bed together. I go through something in every play. Even when I did Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, I had to change the diamond studded bra to something else. I couldn't let students say bra. Why ... why do I go through this all the time?
	IP Logged

JGrigsby Lead Joined: 6/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Posted: 10/04/13 at 12:35pm
	And now I'm learning that there are people in the community upset with the fact there's a gay couple in the play ... as you said I might experience, edh915.
	IP Logged

Majicwrench Celebrity Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178	Posted: 10/04/13 at 1:25pm
	I feel your pain. Trying to please everyone never works. I'm in a diff situation, I listen politely and then do things my way. I sincerely appreciate peoples comments and concerns, but...... Good luck, strength to ya. Let us know. Keith
	IP Logged

JGrigsby Lead Joined: 6/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Posted: 10/04/13 at 1:34pm
	Thank you, Keith. I have a meeting after school to discuss this. I'll keep my friends and theater family on here posted.
	IP Logged

donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 10/04/13 at 3:59pm
	Look, obviously if the kids discover there are gay people in the play they might discover there are gay people in real life, and that would do irreparable harm to them. Just as they couldn't be permitted to discover that there are bras in the world. Think of the horrors that could've unleashed! Stay strong. Hopefully it will all work out!
	www.donzolidis.com
	IP Logged