Woo-Hoo! Coarse language & nudity

Yes, it's true. A group booking from a local Christian group walked out of Saturday night's performance of Blak Yak's "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress". (Actually, according to our lighting, sound and FOH people, it very much appeared as if one woman stormed out, followed tentatively by her acolytes who seemed to be of the opinion, "Ooh, er, I'd like to see the end of the play, but I think I'd better leave too so as not to offend she who walked out.")The reason cited was the coarse language, and yes, we do admit to our eternal shame, that one of the characters does use the term, "Goddamn" (amongst other naughty words). Perhaps we should have had a disclaimer on our publicity material advertising that a few instances of coarse language may offend? Oh well, we'll cross that bridge next time we come to it.Frankly, I'm pleased that this shows that our lovely and talented actresses are so convincing in their roles that they are able to elicit powerful responses from the audience. The vast majority of which were laughing their heads off, but if a tiny majority choose to be offended by a few colourful colloquialisms, then that is their prerogative. I wonder what would have happened had they remained for the fleeting nudity in Act 2...?Jarrod Buttery,Deputy Bridesmaid Wrangler,Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (only 3 nights remaining!!!)

> Perhaps we should> have had a disclaimer on our publicity material advertising that a> few instances of coarse language may offend?Sure, why not? It's a reverse psychology trick used to great effect by the motion picture and recording industries. If you tell certain marginalised sectors of the General Public there's a chance they'll be offended, sometimes they come to be offended, and are only offended if the show/movie/record didn't offend them- which ever way, you win as they walk away p***ed off they got ripped off.Now, how f*@#%ed up is that??

So you had a few thin-skinned people in the audience that night? Better warn them not to complain to any politicians. Especially fe'ral ones.Of course it is prudent to include a disclaimer in your publicity information. Your audience might then complain they were disgusted by the language or nudity, but not shocked or surprised.CheersGrant

> Jarrod Buttery,> Deputy Bridesmaid Wrangler,> Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (only 3 nights remaining!!!)It's a pity they didn't attend on opening night and got their comments into the local rag or the West - even TV! god dam it! You would have a sell out!There again you could have a return season at another venue and set it up with the media?It does not matter how it's advertised, they all have their own expectations.A few years ago, at a regional venue, after "Steaming" had done a 12 sell out season (800 seats a show). The 'blue rinse set' box office staff complained at a staff meeting (lasting about 3 hours). That they are upset because they had a lot of comlaints about the six women with no clothes on in the show! It was badly promoted by the venue, because it stated "6 naked women", this was false advertising because they not only had they no clothes on but were totally nude?.Besides all that, they carried on discuusing the vitues of china cups for the office staff only and the lowely techs had to bring their own in or use the plastic ones provided. I think they were trying to tell us something?? - anyway another 3 hours was wasted. So we wore gloves and drank coffee thru a straw from then on!!!The best was on abudget meeting about purchasing a cyclorama - they could not see why the thecs had to have cycles too ride around on back stage? but thats another story!!!Joe 're-cycling' McCabe

hehehe> A few years ago, at a regional venue, after "Steaming"> had done a 12 sell out season (800 seats a show). The 'blue rinse> set' box office staff complained at a staff meeting (lasting about> 3 hours). That they are upset because they had a lot of comlaints> about the six women with no clothes on in the show!does anyone remember Robert Van Macklenberg being "arrested" in Geraldton for appearing nude in "Equus"?i remember doing the same show recently and hearing that an older couple (pulls on flame prooof suit *grin*) asked for seats near the back so that they could leave quietly if they were offended by the nudity. After interval they were sitting in the front row!CheersGrant

Its an interesting case. We have had more problems with people being offended by Five Women Wearing The Same Dress than by either La Ronde or Miss Bosnia (both of which we anticipated would cause offence).Is it the fact that the "language" comes from young ladies (although it did in Miss Bosnia too) or are they REALLY just offended by the costumes ?!?!Kimberley (Just blame the director) ShawRemember Bookings 9493 4577

noit wasn't me sitting in the back row for Equus, I was in the front row to begin with.BUT - does anyone know what has happened to the well hung actor who appeared in the production of Equus a few years ago? Is he still around in amateur theatre?????????> hehehe> does anyone remember Robert Van Macklenberg being "arrested"> in Geraldton for appearing nude in "Equus"?> i remember doing the same show recently and hearing that an older> couple (pulls on flame prooof suit *grin*) asked for seats near the> back so that they could leave quietly if they were offended by the> nudity. After interval they were sitting in the front row!> Cheers> Grant

> noit wasn't me sitting in the back row for Equus, I was in the> front row to begin with.> BUT - does anyone know what has happened to the well hung actor> who appeared in the production of Equus a few years ago? Is he still> around in amateur theatre?????????>One wonders why yuo want to know...:-P

>> One wonders why yuo want to know...> :-P> Pure curiosity, thats my story and I'm sticking to it!

> One wonders why yuo want to know...hehe you might be wondering, but i'm sure - with all respect to the parties concerned - i don't want to know;)as to the young man concerned, he left the state a few years ago to work as a drama teacher in Singapore and then went to Melbourne and i believe he is currently in Sydney teaching people how to ride motorcycleswhen i last heard from him (sometime last year) he had just amicably parted company with the young woman who played his girlfriend in the show - whom he had followed to Singapore when she went there to teach and then to Melbourne when she went to study at VCA... they'd been together about 4 yearsCheersGrant

So what you are saying is not only is he well hung but he is available too?Miss Kristine Lockwood> So you had a few thin-skinned people in the audience that night?> Better warn them not to complain to any politicians. Especially fe'ral> ones.> Of course it is prudent to include a disclaimer in your publicity> information. Your audience might then complain they were disgusted> by the language or nudity, but not shocked or surprised.> Cheers> Grant>

> One wonders why you want to know...> Pure curiosity, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!There is no truth to the rumour that I am leaving the ITA and that Norma is soliciting for a replacement.(Hmmm. Maybe a poor choice of words, there.)JB