Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: changing profanity

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red diva
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Posted: 10/12/06 at 3:42pm

castMe:

A swoon? Why, I absolutely had a case of the vapors, as Blanche might have said but didn't!

Nah, Martha doesn't do as much for me, though the quote IS pithy!

And ditto what POB said, please let me know when those shirts are ready....I'll need one in a medium. (Seriously, if you really are getting those made up, let me know how much if you're willing to send me one......Marty and our playreading committee will understand why I want one: I'm the "queen of edgy" at the Playhouse.)

"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"

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castMe
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Posted: 10/12/06 at 5:00pm

You have to choose....Are you Ms. Diva or The Queen of Edgy?

Only Babe Ruth gets multiple titles, though I doubt she's a better actress than you.

Investigate. Imagine. Choose.

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B-M-D
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Posted: 10/12/06 at 9:08pm

Originally posted by castMe

Only Babe Ruth gets multiple titles, though I doubt she's a better actress than you.

Ba da bump [cue: rim shot]

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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Topper
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Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:58pm

Originally posted by red diva

"Why, I absolutely had a case of the vapors"

Um, not to be a stickler for details, but this might be of interest:

Fainting is a biological reaction that is difficult to suppress and often happens without warning, unless one has exerted themselves to the point of exhaustion.

When a Southern Gentlewoman professes to leave the room due to "having the vapors" she is not referring to feeling faint or poorly, but is actually admitting to feeling an oncoming bout of intestinal flatulence.

In other words, she's leaving the room in order to pass gas! This is something a proper lady does not do in polite company. (And something gentlemen shouldn't be doing either!)

Notice this remark is typically not shared in the presence of men, but is only expressed to the other women in the room.

The more you know ....

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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MartyW
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Posted: 10/13/06 at 8:32am

Originally posted by castMe

You have to choose....Are you Ms. Diva or The Queen of Edgy?

Only Babe Ruth gets multiple titles, though I doubt she's a better actress than you.

Oh, I BEG to differ.... Not only does she rate'm, she has earned both titles in spades.....

Luv ya Bon..

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

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red diva
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Posted: 10/13/06 at 3:55pm

Why, Topper....what a wet blanket you are!!! But how did you know that I didn't mean exactly that? I'm sure Blanche suffered from intestinal distress once in a while!

Actually, castMe.....the only place I'm known as red diva is here on the Board. I'm known by a lot of other names at the Playhouse, none of which I wish to share here. And, indeed, ba da BUM!!

And Marty.....heh, heh, heh......as for names that have been earned in spades: well, never mind.

Sorry if I sound ouchy, but I just finished a day substituting in a 4th grade class that included a student with severe Asperger's Syndrome (I think I spelled it correctly)....if you know anything about that disorder, you'll understand my mood.

Have we gotten too far off the topic of the thread, Chris and Mike?

"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"

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Mike Polo
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Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:02pm

Probably... but then again, 'cuz we make the rules, enforcement can be kind of iffy, as long as y'all play nice.

Seriously, we like a lively discussion as long as all viewpoints are given respect, the kidding is kept (relatively) clean and rudeness is left at the door. We should be able to agree to disagree on some subjects without losing respect for each other... aside from that (and the rejection of any and all spammers), please feel free to enjoy yourselves.

After all, how many cast party discussions end up on the same topic they started?

Mike Polo
Community Theater Green Room
http://www.communitytheater.org

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TheActingTechie
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Posted: 10/26/06 at 10:34pm

Here's my feeling on the subject. In general, I think that changing profanity is a bad choice. However if it is absolutely nessecery, I think it is better to do so then to have to choose a different play than censors itself.

For example, I'll admit it, I'm in highschool. I'm a highschool drama nerd; and this Fall we are doing two one act plays by Craig Pospisil "Life is Short" and "Months on End." These are two beautifully written, fairly new pieces. They contain a lot of swearing. The school, however, can't get away with a lot; though 99% of the audience wouldn't care.

In the plays the f-word is used in just about every scene, as well as many scatalogical terms and milder curse words. We had to cut every occurance of the f-word. This did hurt some scenes, for example changing a first graders line from "always display a bold f*** you attitude" to "I don't give a damn attitude," is not as funny or shocking. But for the most part it really didn't do much to hurt the play.

But we kept every sh**, b****, damn, hell and crap that the script offered.

The point I was trying to get across in this rather long winded address is that while I would rather have kept the profanity, I think it is better to cut it than have to instead perform a play that is "written for high schoolers" or whatever, and is therefore a lot worse.

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B-M-D
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Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:20pm

However, the fact is no matter how justified the reason you have absolutley no right to change the dialog without the express permission of the playwright or whatever entity has the authority to grant it or not.

At the end of the day either get the permission or don't do the piece. Those are the only legal choices you have. As I've stated already on this topic your perfomance license only allows you to perform it as written.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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teridtiger
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Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:46pm

I agree 100% with B-M-D. Contractually, you cannot change the language on copywritten works. I know of a few theatres that have done so and had their rights for the entire publishing house yanked indefinitely.

By the way, not only is Craig Popisil a playwright, he also WORKS for Dramatists Play Service. Not a wise move, IMHO.

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Directing
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Topic: changing profanity( Topic Closed)
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