Controversial Egg?

Thu, 30 Apr 2009, 10:07 am

Class Act is in the middle of rehearsing "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg" by Peter Nichols. This play was listed as being one of the recommended texts for WA high schools. So far, they are staying away in droves. Is this 1967 play too controversial for our modern audiences?? We have already had a school ring up and say they were disgusted by our flyer - which quoted a review from The Observer which was on the BACK of the actual text along with a review written in 1993 (we put both on the flyer thinking they were "safe" as they were published with the text!) The offending review was by Ronald Bryden in 1967 - " This remarkable play is about a nightmare all women must have dreamed at some time, and most men: living with a child born so hopelessly crippled as to be, as the father says in it brutally, "a human parsnip". For all that, it has to be described as a comedy, one of the funniest and most touching I've ever seen." I must admit that during rehearsals, I am cringing at some of the 1967 references - but because the play is not pc enough for today's standards - should we not perform it?? Should we be changing some of the offensive references? What do you think? Angelique Malcolm

But the whole point of this

Sun, 3 May 2009, 06:46 pm

devils advocate

But the whole point of this started with the reaction to the flyer! please remember norma it is a 'damn good play' in your opinion and it isnt a question of personal taste, rather, that the offending literature that contained a review that was inappropriate (only)considering the target audience! 1967 was the date the review was written and therefore it could be argued that is has very little relevance today, it might have been wiser to have sourced a more recent and therefore relevant review to include. i find it interesting that the lady who posted the original posting is cringing at the content during the rehearsals...i really think you need to prepare a little more thoroughly in the early stages of production class act.

Thread (20 posts)

Threaded Flat

Controversial Egg?— class act theatre30 Apr 2009

Don't censor— Logos30 Apr 2009
Vested interests— Freddie Badgery1 May 2009
Raising more questions than answers, perhaps.— Daniel M1 May 2009
People these days get— Frellis1 May 2009
a tricky one for sure,— devils advocate3 May 2009
I didn't say I hadn't read— Logos3 May 2009
Hmmm, again to reiterate,— devils advocate3 May 2009
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg— Norma3 May 2009
But the whole point of this— devils advocate3 May 2009
- i find it interesting that— Walter Plinge5 May 2009
I'd just like to point out— class act theatre5 May 2009
- Perhaps you should include— Daniel M5 May 2009
Hang on a moment— Freddie Badgery5 May 2009
- Well it shouldn't, is what— Daniel M6 May 2009
  - Erm...— Freddie Badgery6 May 2009
    - In a manner of speaking, I— Daniel M7 May 2009
      - ···
        Tea for two...— Freddie Badgery7 May 2009
        ···
        Say indeed, I agree— Daniel M7 May 2009
Thanks Rocking Jedi Badger— class act theatre5 May 2009

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