- Subject: Burien Little Theatre Is Under Attack From Censorship
- From: Robert Edgmon <robert.edgmon@dig.com>
- Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 19:26:05 -0800
To All Supporters of the Performing Arts,
Burien Little Theatre (BLT) is currently in the middle of running "The
Cripple of Inishmann" by Martin McDonagh and as a result, is currently under
attack by Disabled Americans Have Rights Too, (DAHRT) a group that has in
the past successfully sued the Tacoma Dome and is currently suing Garth
Brooks.
DAHRT, without seeing the play, finds the word "Cripple" in the title of the
show offensive enough to demand that the show be closed down. This group
has sent a letter of protest to the City of Burien ( from whom we rent our
space) and the local newspaper stating that running a play with the word
"cripple" in the title perpetuates prejudices and bigotry against disabled
Americans. They have approached local businesses and asked that they stop
supporting the theatre, they have gotten posters taken down and are
threatening to picket the theatre. To a theatre the size of BLT, where we
exist only from show to show, these actions threaten our existence.
There is a fine line between sensitivity and censorship. Far from being
insensitive, "The Cripple of Inishmann" accomplishes more in an evening than
multiple sensitivity classes because it both entertains and causes
self-examination. However, DAHRT feels that a word in a title is so
distasteful that it outweighs the positive that over 111 pages of script
bring to an audience, a performance that DAHRT has never seen.
However, the reality of the matter is economics. Should DAHRT succeed in
driving away audience members, censorship has won. Because at the end of
the day, without an audience, BLT cannot pay its bills, cannot continue. If
DAHRT succeeds, BLT will be forced to choose to perform only those works
that have no chance of offending anyone at any time. If one word in a title
can cause a show to be shut down, imagine what shows we will be limited to.
And a DAHRT success at BLT will embolden them and other groups like them to
censor other, larger theatres, live performances and art shows.
The only way to stop censorship is to get the targeted work out to as many
people as possible. BLT needs your help. If the growing shadow of
politically correct censorship concerns you, please show your support for
the theatre, the actors and production crew by sharing this message with as
any many people as you can. If we can show that the attendance for the
final six performances of "The Cripple of Inishmann" has not been affected
by this baseless protest, we will have sent a message that stimulating,
thought provoking live theatre will not be bullied into silence.
Thank you
Robert Edgmon
President and Artistic Director
Burien Little Theatre
206 242 5180