Daily News: "Should the classic bubblegum musical 'Bye Bye Birdie' be more P.C.?
Apparently so. According to Gina Gershon, who stars as Rose in the upcoming revival, the production has said bye bye to a frisky dance sequence that has been in the show since its debut in 1960."
7 comments:
Having never seen or read this show, I don't know what they are specifically talking about, but it amazes me that something is to "gang rape-y" is performed throughout high schools and other productions where kids are doing it. Big suprise to them I guess. I mean I know catholic schools that have done this show and have not had a problem with it, but now all of the sudden...? I think a lot of the reason the "gang rape-y" scene was dropped though was for publicity.
People need to stop being so P.C. We can say 'nigger' on TV but can't have a dance scene with a girl in the room full of an all-male club. What's next, should we cut the drunken night in Havana in Guys and Dolls because the girl is acting easy to get? Yes, I understand for some items why they make alternate version. For example, a catholic high school production of les mis may not want one of their students playing a hooker and singing while she "works." However, the more stories are altered to fit supposedly today's times the more we lose the historical evidence subtley woven into the text and story. I understand this argument may not be directly effecting this story, but we constantly look back at texts and evaluate them for historical references and if we begin to reshape them they are loosing their credibility.
This is so surprising to me. Having just seen a high school production of Bye Bye Birdie last year I never associated that scene with gang rape. I don't see why it needs to change now. If gang rape is a problem, shouldn't we address it? And where better than in American theatre?
Its actually really surprising when you talk to people about this scene. Some people we get that it has the potential to become a gang rape while others think that its just a wild party. I guess it depends on how you play it. I do have to agree with Nicole on this. Although this scene isn't terrible important to the plot of Bye Bye Birdie it still add meaning to the her character. I think people should think a lot before they decide to cut a scene and reasoning should not just be because it will offend people.
While I have never seen or heard the show, I can't believe that such a typical high school/summer camp show would include a gang rape scene. And even if it did, there should be a way to reinterpret it (West Side Story anyone?) I don't really understand how a show that has been around, problem-free, for so long needs to be interpreted as a gang rape scene.
Also, like Katherine said, why are we censoring ourselves when theater, and art as a whole, is supposed to be one of the major methods of communication within and across cultures. If you wanted to interpret it as gang rape, couldn't you use the scene to make some sort of statement?
I performed in this show years ago at school--the idea of a "gang rape" scene in BIRDIE is just crazy. That isn't to say we didn't come under fire for doing the whole Icehouse scene. I can understand not wanting to see your child on stage in Junior High pretending to have sex; but the show contains nothing of the sort.
People really need to man up and stop being offended by every thing they see. From my experience going to a private high school, it looks like parents are always looking for something to have a problem with--we don't need this same problem on Broadway.
While I can see where this scene might possibly be taken in this way. It is always the challenge of the director/choreographer to handle all of the given material in a manner that is consistent with the artistic vision of the show. So, if the show's vision calls for the suggestion of "gang rape", then it should be handled tastefully. However, if it is like a large majority of the productions done, this scene can be seen in a light manner where a slightly intoxicated character has a little fun in a fez.
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