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Finding an Appropriate Script
By Brian D. Taylor, Project Editor, Pioneer Drama Service
Brian D. Taylor is the project editor for Pioneer Drama Service, a published playwright and a former drama teacher. Working with K-12, college and community theatre groups, he has a wide theatrical background with experience in directing, acting and technical theatre.
In the fall of 2006, I was deep into the production schedule of an intense murder mystery. My middle school and high school students were loving their first taste of suspense, as they had never had the privilege to perform a drama. A few weeks before the show, one of my administrators asked how the show was going and what we would be performing this year. I told her it was a really wonderful murder mystery.
She paused, then cautiously asked, “Is it a scary murder mystery?”
“Yes,” I responded directly, “There are moments that will be scary. That’s sort of the point.”
“Oh,” she replied, pausing more to consider her next concern. “Is there a gun involved?”
“No, but there is a knife,” I said, offering full disclosure.
“I’m sorry, but we really can’t have weapons in school. Are you sure you should be doing this play? Is it appropriate for us?” she challenged in her concerned and firm, yet non-judgmental administrator’s voice.
“Yes,” I told her with shaky confidence. “It is appropriate. You hired me to teach the kids drama, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
That short conversation with my administrator and the fear of losing my job over producing this play was all that I could think about for the remaining weeks of the show. I went back and forth, wondering whether I should be doing this. I had no reason to believe that the play was inappropriate for the school or my students, yet I couldn’t help but worry that I might be doing something wrong. In the end, nothing else was ever mentioned about it. We performed the play, neither the kids nor audience were scarred by the content of the play, and we thankfully received a lot of positive comments about the play from both the students and their parents.
You have almost certainly had similar experiences and worries working in your own organization. As schools have had to become so politically correct — banning any expression that might be taken the wrong way and adopting no-tolerance policies against weapons, displays of affection and certain styles of dress — how can any drama teacher do her job?
How can you perform Romeo and Juliet without stage kisses and teen suicide?
How can you produce Othello or Hairspray without the racial elements involved?
How can you put on Robin Hood without bows and arrows?
How can you perform Godspell without sending a religious message?
The answer is, you can’t. Many directors just choose another show instead. But the fact is, while you may find a show that seems more appropriate, practically any play or musical you could possibly choose is going to have something that could be considered inappropriate by someone.
As an editor who reads all kinds of submissions, I can tell you that plays completely void of anything that could be considered questionable just do not exist. Even though Pioneer Drama does its best to provide an expansive catalog of wholesome, family-friendly shows, carefully edited to be accessible to as many different types of groups as possible, every play has at least something in it that someone might find disagreeable.
Ultimately, you simply have to accept that you can’t please everyone. It’s impossible. So what can you do? Know your group, your organization and your audience as best you can to avoid definite landmines. Always, always, always read the script before you cast the show. And consider making a small script change rather than abandoning a show completely. If there’s a line that seems a little suggestive, rewrite the line or cut it completely. If there’s a gag with a guy’s pants falling down, modify the stage directions so that it’s more appropriate for your group.
As the director, you can make these kinds of changes, as long as you have permission from the publisher. So how tricky is that? Pioneer Drama Service always allows you to adjust a script for your needs in these small ways without even requiring you get approval. We know how important it is to you that the script reflects the values of your community, so we simply ask that you respect the intentions of the playwright and the integrity of the play. Other publishers, however, forbid you from changing a single word of their script without written approval. So, it’s important to know your publisher and abide by their rules.
But let’s go back to larger issues like my murder mystery had. When you know that the show you are producing is completely appropriate for your group yet someone questions your judgment, consider their concerns, but stand your ground if you disagree. You were hired as a professional. Trust your instincts, especially if their concerns have to do with the very core of what drama is all about... drama.
And I might add one more thing... relax. Many teachers and especially administrators want so badly to please everyone that they live in fear that one person might question the appropriateness of something in a play. But drama is a performing art, and art by definition evokes different reactions from different people. You simply can’t stay up all night worrying about one individual’s reaction to a plot element or a line or a word when practically everyone in the audience would consider the same thing perfectly harmless. Too often in the schools our decisions are swayed by the remote possibility that there could be one outspoken and opinionated person who might say something. Again, trust your instincts. If you feel the play or musical you’re selecting is harmless and will provide your students with a positive and educational experience, stick with it.
After our show ended, one of my favorite comments from the audience was (and I’m paraphrasing somewhat here), “Wow! The murder scene, when she finally pulled out the knife and slowly approached the victim, was so intense. I almost couldn’t watch, but I was on the edge of my seat.” Though a bit cliché, it was just what I needed to hear. My students told the story and led that audience member to experience a powerful emotion. That’s drama. That’s art. That’s why we do this. And sometimes, it requires the use of a knife.

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