tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post2501336587081496979..comments2023-09-29T03:39:03.460-04:00Comments on Gratuitous Violins: Steve Martin: Serious about free speechEstherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-20320523105619478182009-03-15T19:18:00.000-04:002009-03-15T19:18:00.000-04:00Thanks, Steve. I stand corrected! I think it's imp...Thanks, Steve. I stand corrected! <BR/><BR/>I think it's important to pick plays or musicals that the students are interested in, that will challenge them. I think Cabaret and Picasso at the Lapin Agile can provide opportunities to learn about history and science and art and literature and different cultures. <BR/><BR/>Even the classic musicals, like Oklahoma and Fiddler on the Roof and South Pacific can do that. Or plays like The Crucible, which my high school did a long, long time ago. <BR/><BR/>I mean, you could have them put on High School Musical, which I think is harmless enough, but what would anyone learn from that experience?Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-26837523063703804032009-03-15T19:10:00.000-04:002009-03-15T19:10:00.000-04:00Thanks so much for your comment, Anonymous. It's g...Thanks so much for your comment, Anonymous. <BR/><BR/>It's great to hear from someone who's seen the play. From the description I've read, it sounds like it would be a great play for teenagers - very intellectually challenging. <BR/><BR/>Yeah, it did seem to me a little hypocritical that people who've never shown any interest in the school's theater program are suddenly up in arms over this. And you're right - they should have taken time to read the whole thing. It's not that long!<BR/><BR/>I wonder what the reaction would have been if the parents of non-athletes had demanded some change to the football program?Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-44722368426961570022009-03-15T19:04:00.000-04:002009-03-15T19:04:00.000-04:00Esther, I believe the film version of "Cabaret" wa...Esther, I believe the film version of "Cabaret" was initially rated R. The mores of our society have certainly changed over the past 35 years (just as they had in the 35 years prior to that and the ones before that). Today's shocking may just not raise eyebrows tomorrow.Steve On Broadway (SOB)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04353077627991682499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-6700698137284733922009-03-15T12:17:00.000-04:002009-03-15T12:17:00.000-04:00My Jesuit college did "Picasso at the Lapin Agile"...My Jesuit college did "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" when I was a freshman. It was totally fine -- I liked the script, I really wanted the role of the barmaid (she's awesome, and a strong character -- wears pretty risque clothing but is no bimbo). It really is a very intellectual play, and sad and funny and fast.<BR/><BR/>I can imagine the passages highlighted for those 137 parents. Shame on them for not reading it in context.<BR/><BR/>Good for the director, pointing out the sudden interest in the play from a clutch of non-theatregoers. It's always those on the fringe who try to jam a wrench in the works with plays.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-52847604541536126052009-03-14T13:33:00.000-04:002009-03-14T13:33:00.000-04:00Wow, that's interesting. I think Cabaret would be ...Wow, that's interesting. I think Cabaret would be a pretty daring choice for a high school - but a great history lesson, too. Btw, out of curiosity I checked the rating for the movie and it's PG - no age restriction at all. So the same students whose parents might have objected to the musical could have gone to see the movie on their own. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I know these controversies aren't exactly new. But it seems to me you have to keep in perspective what the play or musical is about.Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-52379805543450868302009-03-14T12:19:00.000-04:002009-03-14T12:19:00.000-04:00Esther, I remember a huge brouhaha back in the mid...Esther, I remember a huge brouhaha back in the mid-70s when one of my area's high schools mounted a production of <B>Cabaret</B> - pretty heady content for its time, let alone now.Steve On Broadway (SOB)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04353077627991682499noreply@blogger.com