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 Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions |
 Topic: Almost, Maine - Final Pairing of Dave and Rhonda |
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JGrigsby
Lead 
Joined: 6/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38 |
   Posted: 10/04/13 at 5:41pm |
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Thank you, Mr. Zolidis!
I'm in the process of trying to contact Mr. John Cariani about changing the last scene of Almost, Maine. I don't know how this will go. Dramatists told me it could take 2-4 weeks for an answer. I can't get the "Contact Me" e-mail option on Mr. Cariani's website to work. But, my principal is supporting me with keeping the scene "They Fell" between Chad and Randy as is - we'll weather that storm. One of the cast members was asked at her asked at her work, "As a Christian girl, how do you feel about a gay couple in the play." She told this person it didn't bother at her. The person told her she should mind - it should bother her. More and more I think I need to find a new community in which to teach. |
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edh915
Celebrity 
Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325 |
Posted: 10/06/13 at 2:27am |
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Good luck. Be sure to let us know if the show is still on. I'll come see it.
- Side note: we're having our own problems right now with our community theater production of Glengarry Glen Ross. A member of the local theater arts council, or some such organization (I didn't get the exact title), left our performance this evening (three minutes into the show) vowing to extract some sort of retribution for subjecting her and her morals to the corrupting influence of filthy language. |
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Rorgg
Celebrity
Joined: 2/10/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 151 |
Posted: 10/07/13 at 11:05am |
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That was someone trying to crusade, not legitimately shocked and offended. Any member of a theatre arts council or whatever should be aware of the well-deserved reputation of Mamet in general and Glengarry in particular for language.
We had a good payoff this weekend doing Rabbit Hole. We've done two shows at a church, and we got invited back this year and chose RH. We did warn them at the submission of the plan that it's seriously-themed and includes some language -- in this case, about a half-dozen f-bombs. For that, among other reasons, we proposed doing the show in the basement area rather than the sanctuary, as we'd done the first two. It was OKed and we just barreled into it with a little trepedation. No worries were needed -- the production was universally loved. In fact, we were given our own key to the building for use in the future. |
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jayzehr
Celebrity
Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537 |
Posted: 10/07/13 at 2:14pm |
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Rorgg--just out of curiosity what denomination is the church you use?
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jayzehr
Celebrity
Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537 |
Posted: 10/07/13 at 2:26pm |
We had a couple walk out of our August production of the Nerd loudly complaining that it was "pointless and stupid." :) As for Almost Maine, you see much more adult content on any network sit-com at 8 o'clock not to mention something like Family Guy which is frequently syndicated and broadcast even earlier in the evening. |
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Majicwrench
Celebrity
Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178 |
Posted: 10/07/13 at 4:30pm |
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Anytime I mention "you see worse/more things on television" people tell me (and this is a compliment to our trade) that theatre is much more real and powerful. And it is.
Keith
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Rorgg
Celebrity
Joined: 2/10/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 151 |
Posted: 10/09/13 at 12:02pm |
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UCC -- United Church of Christ, which is, admittedly, pretty far on the progressive end of the Christian spectrum.
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JGrigsby
Lead
Joined: 6/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38 |
Posted: 10/10/13 at 5:30pm |
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Good news ... the show is still on. My administration is supportive of the same-sex couple and will defend it to the community if it's a matter that's brought before the school board.
The administration is supportive of the kids "drinking" on stage since they are portraying adults. They will also defend this to the community. Now, "Dave" and "Rhonda." We've met a compromise that I do not believe I need to get approval from the author or the licensing company. I have to give it to my actor and actress who came up with this. We will do the show as written with one small change. The two actors will undress themselves but not down to their long johns. They will undress to "normal" street clothes. We will keep the dialogue the same. As "Rhonda" tells Dave to, "Get in here and show me what's next, Mr. Arctic Cat man," he will go. We're going to move to blackout while the northern lights are happening, and then lights up to "Dave" and "Rhonda" on the couch, cuddled together watching TV and enjoying popcorn. No new lines, but to show people the "what's next" isn't sex but a relationship. The infamous heart painting will be at the foot of the couch. We'll then keep "Dave" and "Rhonda" on stage while the Epilogue plays out. The curtain call will happen around "Dave" and "Rhonda," too. There you have it ... what do ya' think? The administration is very happy with this, as long it is clear that watching TV and eating popcorn isn't what is done AFTER having sex. I told them that would not be the case. |
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JGrigsby
Lead
Joined: 6/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38 |
Posted: 11/27/13 at 1:53pm |
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Things were a success! The high school students gave favorable reviews. The administration was pretty happy (with the exception of the superintendent who didn't like the heavy innuendo in "Seeing the Thing." He made the principal come and talk to me about it. We talked, the principal liked it ... all is good. But, some colleagues with whom I work felt the need to tell me I shouldn't have a show that has cussing in it (Almost has "hell" twice and "Dammit" once) and that they were unhappy with a gay scene. Tough nuts ... I'm not apologizing for anything. All worked out ... we made about $200 after royalties, scripts, set costs, etc. Thank you all for your support over the past several months!!!
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jayzehr
Celebrity
Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537 |
Posted: 11/27/13 at 4:06pm |
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Congratulations! It's a great show, isn't it?
As to the "cussing"--if two "hells" and a "dammit" constitute unacceptable language I don't know where you go from there. Harvey and Arsenic and Old Lace over and over again, I guess. As far as our CT is concerned I continue to be confused as to where the line is and how much we should cater to those offended. |
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