Theatrical discrimination in the Valley

This letter is in response to a June 6 Letter to the Editor concerning Valley Performing Arts.

Recently, my wife, who was assistant stage manager for A Bunch of Amateurs, received a letter from the VPA Board. This was in response to her question as to why the play was cancelled.

The Board’s letter states, “… As you must be aware, our nation and the world have become extremely sensitive to any appearance of inappropriate interaction between adults and children. Intentional casting that magnified the appearance of age difference created an inappropriate situation and the Executive Committee made the decision to halt production.”

Claptrap.

First of all, our nation and the world are becoming more proactive towards combating actual pedophilia and the enormous emotional damage that ensues.

This is done

• By bringing the act into the harsh light of public scrutiny.

• By letting the offenders know it will not be tolerated.

• By letting the victims know they are not alone.

It is not done by accusing a youthful appearing, petite, twenty something leading lady and her tall thirty something leading man of a presumed appearance of pedophilia. This is not “shock factor,” but simply paranoia and probably outright discrimination.

Suggesting the woman looks 12 to 13 years old is demeaning and suppressive, particularly in the context of VPA’s reason for pulling the play. Youthful appearance is not a crime and is often considered a blessing, except by those haunted by jealousy or even baser considerations.

There are many height and age disparate couples in the Valley who could identify with and appreciate the awkward and humorous situations that arise in such relationships. The rest of us could gain a little empathy.

That is life. Love. Theater. Not porn.

VPA’s arrogant assumption that myself and other adults cannot individually discern these things is infuriating.

By cancelling this show VPA has demonstrated a lack of confidence in the playwrights, directors, cast and crew. And even their audience. VPA has decided that they know better what is right and wrong than anyone else.

There are names for this attitude – bias, bigotry, intolerance, discrimination, are a few. They lead to censorship, which VPA has done. They lead to confusion by not allowing others to judge for themselves, which VPA has done. In the information vacuum created by this confusion rumor abounds and reputations are needlessly pilloried, all of which VPA has fostered.

However, this is not about nasty language, adult themes or bias. It is about quality theater. And, ultimately, it is about how each individual member of the audience perceives the performance.

Do they experience passion, enchantment, hope, outrage, anger, fear, or, hopefully, an entire range of emotion during the play? I hope so, for that is the purpose of art. To evoke emotion. To explore life.

The ONLY reliable judge is the audience. Certainly, even The Bard had people walk out of his plays. But, far more stayed. When emotion drives both groups, that is a great play.

Children’s plays are fun and VPA does them well, but the grown-ups, who buy the tickets, deserve an occasional night out without the kids. A simple, “Suggested for mature audiences” is all that is required. Not nebulous rumors of, “appearance of inappropriate interaction between adults and children.”

Yes, A Bunch of Amateurs has a romantic component, tastefully done. But the real theme of the play is the potential damage done by gossip and misunderstanding and the creative way a bunch of amateurs turn the tables on the perpetrators. The play is delightful, uplifting and humorous.

Unfortunately, VPA fell for the gossip and misunderstanding. A bigoted few were allowed to unnecessarily drag the play, cast, crew and unsatisfied audiences through the mud. They turned a play decreed by the Queen of England as a Royal favorite into a tawdry display of the power of bias to disenfranchise others.

In the future, VPA would better serve the Valley by offering their artists a chance to fully express themselves and their audiences a chance to proclaim their approval or disapproval by cheers or jeers or even walking out.

That is what great theater is all about.

Joseph C Potts,

Palmer