“No one should have the right to use government funds or institutions to portray acts that are morally reprehensible to the vast majority of Americans.” ~ David Dewhurst, Lt. Governor of Texas
When I read that quote, I knew that I was not taking the month off I had promised myself. Doing show after show after show had become a little tiring, so I decided that April/May was going to be my time off from performing.
Then, Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas banned a production of Terrence McNally's play "Corpus Christi" because it is the story of Christ set in a small town in Texas, and by the way, Jesus is gay.
I had read the play a few years ago, and to be honest, I wasn't all that blown away by it. When I'm looking to produce something, I tend to steer more towards intellectual or clever writing, and I didn't see anything clever about this play.
On a second read, I found that I was wrong. There was a definite sense of humor present in the play. Granted, it sounds nothing like a Terrence McNally play. If anything, it reminds me more of Larry McMurtry and 'The Last Picture Show.' It's a very intimate portrait of life in a small town.
To be honest, after I reread the play, I had second thoughts about producing it. Ironically, it was because of how pro-Christianity the piece is. It's one of the most sincere pieces of theater involving Christ that I've ever read, and as someone who is lapsed at best when it comes to religion, I found myself wondering if I wanted to dive into such a genuinely Christian play.
Then I reread the quote: "...Morally reprehensible to the vast majority of Americans."
I'd love to say I was furious, but more than that, I was confused.
Is this even an honest statement?
Well, right off the bat, you can tell that Lt. Gov. Dewhurst has not read the play. If he's implying that most Americans are Christians, then they should have absolutely no problem with the play. Yes, it implies that Christ had human faults and desires, but doesn't the Bible say the same thing?
And if he's implying that it's offensive because in the play a gay man is portrayed as a Christ figure, then THAT would infuriate me. It's one thing to say that most of this country is homophobic, it's another thing to say that the government will promote that homophobia by deciding not to fund pieces of theater that confront it.
Part of me dislikes the play because I feel that, in some ways, it courts controversy. I guess any play would that deals with this type of content, but I'm not one to produce theater just to get people picketing outside.
That being said, my main reservation was still the play's tone and message. Should a non-believer be producing a show like this?
My answer?
Yes, and for the same reason the government should be funding theater that the majority of their population does not agree with, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst.
Because we live in a country that was founded on voices, and the freedom of voices. I'm not sure how much Texas took out of its history books lately, but perhaps they need to add a quote by Voltaire.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Well, this skeptic is going to go defend Terrence McNally's right to speak his faith, even if his faith involves Jesus being a young, gay Texan.
But the Lieutenant Governor can rest easy--I'm footing the bill for this one.
When I read that quote, I knew that I was not taking the month off I had promised myself. Doing show after show after show had become a little tiring, so I decided that April/May was going to be my time off from performing.
Then, Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas banned a production of Terrence McNally's play "Corpus Christi" because it is the story of Christ set in a small town in Texas, and by the way, Jesus is gay.
I had read the play a few years ago, and to be honest, I wasn't all that blown away by it. When I'm looking to produce something, I tend to steer more towards intellectual or clever writing, and I didn't see anything clever about this play.
On a second read, I found that I was wrong. There was a definite sense of humor present in the play. Granted, it sounds nothing like a Terrence McNally play. If anything, it reminds me more of Larry McMurtry and 'The Last Picture Show.' It's a very intimate portrait of life in a small town.
To be honest, after I reread the play, I had second thoughts about producing it. Ironically, it was because of how pro-Christianity the piece is. It's one of the most sincere pieces of theater involving Christ that I've ever read, and as someone who is lapsed at best when it comes to religion, I found myself wondering if I wanted to dive into such a genuinely Christian play.
Then I reread the quote: "...Morally reprehensible to the vast majority of Americans."
I'd love to say I was furious, but more than that, I was confused.
Is this even an honest statement?
Well, right off the bat, you can tell that Lt. Gov. Dewhurst has not read the play. If he's implying that most Americans are Christians, then they should have absolutely no problem with the play. Yes, it implies that Christ had human faults and desires, but doesn't the Bible say the same thing?
And if he's implying that it's offensive because in the play a gay man is portrayed as a Christ figure, then THAT would infuriate me. It's one thing to say that most of this country is homophobic, it's another thing to say that the government will promote that homophobia by deciding not to fund pieces of theater that confront it.
Part of me dislikes the play because I feel that, in some ways, it courts controversy. I guess any play would that deals with this type of content, but I'm not one to produce theater just to get people picketing outside.
That being said, my main reservation was still the play's tone and message. Should a non-believer be producing a show like this?
My answer?
Yes, and for the same reason the government should be funding theater that the majority of their population does not agree with, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst.
Because we live in a country that was founded on voices, and the freedom of voices. I'm not sure how much Texas took out of its history books lately, but perhaps they need to add a quote by Voltaire.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Well, this skeptic is going to go defend Terrence McNally's right to speak his faith, even if his faith involves Jesus being a young, gay Texan.
But the Lieutenant Governor can rest easy--I'm footing the bill for this one.
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