Re: Woo-Hoo! Coarse language & nudity

Well, that bridge is coming up fast, and I'll be darned if it doesn't look like Chappaquidick.You'll remember how a woman stomed out of Blak Yak's last production, "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress". Well apparently, this woman has been ringing the City of Gosnells Don Russell Performing Arts Centre (Blak Yak's venue) and threatening the management with legal action because she was offended by our play. And here's the punchline: apparently it wasn't the occasional coarse language that caused the offense, but the lesbianism! That's right, this woman walked out of our play because an actress was portraying a lesbian. Understand that there was no physicality involved - whilst two of the bridesmaid characters were talking, it was mentioned that another of the bridesmaids is a lesbian.And THAT caused this woman to walk out and threaten subsequent legal action because she wasn't warned of "offensive material".Unfortunately, this has worried the management at the City of Gosnells Don Russell Performing Arts Centre and we are being asked to sign a new clause in our contract stating that all advertising must advise of "any strong language, sexual behaviour, homeosexuality (sic), nudity, racial or religious discrimination" (but drug use isn't mentioned so I guess THAT'S okay).Personally the entire situation has left me stunned. The word "incredulous" hardly begins to describe our feelings. I apologise if this sounds like I am airing our dirty laundry, but this IS a gossip page, the story WILL get around (not that there's anything secret about it) and I was naturally curious to see if other people were as offended as I am. Frankly, I don't know whether I'm more offended by this woman, or by the assumption that homosexuality is so offensive that we are being asked to warn people in advance that it MIGHT be mentioned. Surely there are sexual discrimination laws addressing this...Jarrod (doesn't know whether he's coming or going, Arthur or Martha) Buttery.

Oh good grief!!> You'll remember how a woman stomed out of Blak Yak's last production,> "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress". Well apparently, this> woman has been ringing the City of Gosnells Don Russell Performing> Arts Centre (Blak Yak's venue) and threatening the management with> legal action because she was offended by our play. And here's the> punchline: apparently it wasn't the occasional coarse language that> caused the offense, but the lesbianism! That's right, this woman walked> out of our play because an actress was portraying a lesbian. Understand> that there was no physicality involved - whilst two of the bridesmaid> characters were talking, it was mentioned that another of the bridesmaids> is a lesbian.And i'm a christian offended by atheists. I'm a muslim and don't wish to be confronted by women in pants. I'm a puritan and can't bear the sight of women's ankles. I'm a capitalist and this play is full of communists. I'm an anarchist and it was far to ordered. I'm an expressionist and that's all dada. I'm a white supremacist offended by multiculturalism. I'm with the thought-police and you can't think that. This is George Orwell and this is 1984.> And THAT caused this woman to walk out and threaten subsequent> legal action because she wasn't warned of "offensive material".Define "offensive"?Australian theatre has a fascinating history in this regard. I outlined a couple of prominent cases in a previous post. I also recollect reading of WWIII being waged in Sydney over the premiere in the 50's at the Independent Theatre of the play Rusty Bugles that used the word bastard.> Unfortunately, this has worried the management at the City of> Gosnells Don Russell Performing Arts Centre and we are being asked> to sign a new clause in our contract stating that all advertising> must advise of "any strong language, sexual behaviour, homeosexuality> (sic), nudity, racial or religious discrimination" (but drug> use isn't mentioned so I guess THAT'S okay).Well, i hope they'll include and expand on the list of restrictions that i've mentioned above, because goodness knows, you're bound to offend someone whatever you do.> Personally the entire situation has left me stunned. The word> "incredulous" hardly begins to describe our feelings.Outraged is the word i would use.> I apologise if this sounds like I am airing our dirty laundry, but this> IS a gossip page, the story WILL get around (not that there's anything> secret about it) and I was naturally curious to see if other people> were as offended as I am. Frankly, I don't know whether I'm more offended> by this woman, or by the assumption that homosexuality is so offensive> that we are being asked to warn people in advance that it MIGHT be> mentioned. Surely there are sexual discrimination laws addressing> this...Yes, there are laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis sexual preference.There are two issues here. Can you really be taken to court if someone is offended by something in a play you do? And secondly, the legality of being required to distinguish between homosexual and heterosexual material.In the first instance, i personally believe this woman sounds like a loony. Ignore her and she'll go away. You can quote me on that and she can sue me for all she's worth.I would hope the law makes some distinction between what may cause a person offence and what is offensive. It probably amounts to the difference between a civil and criminal action. My bet is, you've done nothing illegal and she would have to sue you or better still the City of Gosnells.If you check out the Office of Film and Literature Classification's website you will find guidelines for film and video classification. (They're pdf files and need a special reader) These may serve as a good guide to clubs as to whether or not to post a warning.http://www.oflc.gov.au/latest.htmlIn the second instance, i'm not a lawyer, but if you are being required to provide a public warning if a character declares a preference for homosexuality, but the same requirement for a warning does not apply to plays containing characters which make similar declarations about their heterosexuality, then i feel there would be grounds for a claim of discrimination.I feel a new poll coming on!CheersGrant

Like you I am stunned!I remember some years ago we (at Melville) did "And Then There Were None", which you may recall was once called "Ten Little Niggers" (can't say that word), then "Ten Little Indians" (might offend the Sioux) and finally "And Then There Were None".In the script there was a phrase "So she's the nigger in the woodpile!" over which we agonised. It was finally decided to leave it in after researching the origin of the phrase and finding it referred to a knot in a piece of wood and had nothing at all to do with racial origin.Yep, you've guessed it! We had one woman who wrote a nasty letter objecting to the "continued use" of the word "nigger". Personally I found it very sad that she took no notice at all of the rest of the play - being only interested in finding something she could complain about.I guess you can never please everyone!!> Well, that bridge is coming up fast, and I'll be darned if it> doesn't look like Chappaquidick.> You'll remember how a woman stomed out of Blak Yak's last production,> "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress". Well apparently, this> woman has been ringing the City of Gosnells Don Russell Performing> Arts Centre (Blak Yak's venue) and threatening the management with> legal action because she was offended by our play. And here's the> punchline: apparently it wasn't the occasional coarse language that> caused the offense, but the lesbianism! That's right, this woman walked> out of our play because an actress was portraying a lesbian. Understand> that there was no physicality involved - whilst two of the bridesmaid> characters were talking, it was mentioned that another of the bridesmaids> is a lesbian.> And THAT caused this woman to walk out and threaten subsequent> legal action because she wasn't warned of "offensive material".>> Unfortunately, this has worried the management at the City of> Gosnells Don Russell Performing Arts Centre and we are being asked> to sign a new clause in our contract stating that all advertising> must advise of "any strong language, sexual behaviour, homeosexuality> (sic), nudity, racial or religious discrimination" (but drug> use isn't mentioned so I guess THAT'S okay).> Personally the entire situation has left me stunned. The word> "incredulous" hardly begins to describe our feelings. I> apologise if this sounds like I am airing our dirty laundry, but this> IS a gossip page, the story WILL get around (not that there's anything> secret about it) and I was naturally curious to see if other people> were as offended as I am. Frankly, I don't know whether I'm more offended> by this woman, or by the assumption that homosexuality is so offensive> that we are being asked to warn people in advance that it MIGHT be> mentioned. Surely there are sexual discrimination laws addressing> this...> Jarrod (doesn't know whether he's coming or going, Arthur or> Martha) Buttery.

An interesting element to this story is that the woman who complained actually left the theatre BEFORE the lesbian character appeared on stage. Was she afraid she might turn to stone ????The ironic thing is that you never get complaints about "good little murder plays". Somehow there is something wrong with a world where you can "kill" a person live on stage, but you can't even talk about love between consenting adults.Kimberley ShawDirector of REALLY offensive playsand BIGTIME sinnerPS I invited my former boss. (I used to teach religion in a Catholic school). She had no problems with the play.

This is Brilliant, get in touch with the media and the "West" as fast as possible, after you resurrect the show of course, put it on again - mega houses, great publicity, lest be pro-active!?!?This is what can put your theatre on the map , million dollar advertising for not (could this be knot or Niger?) brass (ooh! this is it brazen) Penny (or should we not mention gender).Banner (this could be gender discrimination) head lines and on the marquee of all the words that may be offensive to anyone! (just about the full script). 'The Centre' would have it's 5 minutes of 'Fame' (this show is not available to amateurs)and you can take the 'Glory' (a license may be required from the Perth Glory Soccer Club for the use of their name)This is a winner - get on and make a buck (or is this offensive)Before you can have any working and productive circuit, there must be at least one negative for it to work (four letter word again). As the true electron flow is from negative to positive and not from positive to negative, as is the convention. Therefore before we can be pro-active, we must be pre-negative for this theory to stand. Hence if we are all purely positive, the dammed (sorry for the language) thing cannot work - thus a negative is essential.You have one negative - add as many positives as needed, with the play being the element or resistance, make it live with the actors being the power source - Turn it on, the current (bums on seats) will flow and then there should be Light (bugger- Light has religious connotations, so long as the globe is not on the fritz?.My advice is the 5 Ps ( sorry cant mention multiple Ping), get it into the all into place, start the publicity and promotion, get the show on the boards and count the receipts!Well done Black Yak - you deserve the "The Golden Goly (Enid Blytons Noddy - had a problem with this!) Award 1999" or at least the "Black Gaffer" (change the colour so as not to offend) consolation prize!This all proved out by 'Ohms Law, therefore it should be legal, the emotive force is equal to sum of the resistance divide by the current therein. E=R/I or Volts = Wattage over Amperage.Could this be the true difference between 'Arts Biz' and 'Show Biz'"for those who 'do it in the dark' - Just add lights and a camera - then sell the video rights" - Joe McCabe

Unfortunately, I didn't see the play, however, I do agree with you Kimberley.How many people let their children watch violent shows rather than let them watch two people make love?????Teri WelchScarp Theatre Company

Amendment to previous posting;> This all proved out by 'Ohms Law, therefore it should be legal,> the emotive force is equal to sum of the resistance divide by the> current therein. E=R/I or Volts = Wattage over Amperage.This should be; E = I x R. Not how it was posted, so therefore please make the adjustment as required.E EI = _ or R = _R IWattageVolts = _______ (is correct)AmperageWattageAmperage = _______VoltageWattage = Voltage x Amperage {1000watts = 250volts x 4amps}It must be old age (explanation), I'm an idiot (plauseable), not enough coffee (one excuse) - I stuffed it up (the truth).Joe McCabe

Who let Joe out of his cage? ;-)

> Who let Joe out of his cage? ;-)>Sorry!They have been advised and prompted by your posting - now they have gone off to change the locks. I should get out of this and get a proper job like...er ..weelll...Go back to Theatre - I think?So does anyone know of a job going, for a clapped out Licensed Electrician cum Technician, who dabbles in lighting - dribbles in misen scene & construction design - wimbles in stage direction and managment - wobles in show control and wets him self if he has to clean windows.If so, contact me and get me off the net and out of this loop. 'cause my right hand still can't spell poifikt yet!I promise Jeff, in future, I will only jump in when it does not concern me and have nothing to say - which won't change much, I sup-hose?ThanksJoe