Posted on 07/22/2003 6:40:00 AM PDT by chambley1
County Board members said Saturday they have neither the power nor the intention to stop a troupe called Puppetry of the Penis from performing at the county-operated Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, despite complaints that the show’s content makes it inappropriate for a municipal venue.
Practicing what troupe members call the “ancient art of genital origami,” Puppetry of the Penis is slated to perform at the Spectrum from July 22 to Aug. 17. Performers manipulate their private parts into everything from a hamburger to their signature effort, the Eiffel Tower.
A few Arlingtonians are not amused.
“We should not be pandering to those who confuse artistic expression with boorish exhibitionism,” said Richard Kelsey, a local attorney who is the Republican nominee for County Board in the fall.
“I am embarrassed that our county is the first in the United States to allow this production in a publicly funded venue,” Kelsey said. “Its contents far exceed our community standards.”
Even one County Board member, Chris Zimmerman, seemed unsure that Rosslyn Spectrum was the appropriate setting for the show.
“The nature of this production makes a lot of people in this community uncomfortable,” he said.
But other board members said that they have no authority to censor Puppetry of the Penis, which is renting the Rosslyn Spectrum space and is not receiving any subsidy from the county.
“The public always has the right to choose what they see, what they don’t want to see,” said Vice Chairman Barbara Favola. “There are freedom-of-expression issues here . . . in this county, we’ve always valued freedom of speech.”
County Manager Ron Carlee said that the county could run into legal problems if it tried to restrict what performers can do on stage.
“We do not regulate legitimate art content,” Carlee said.
Carlee said the group would be paying $16,000 to rent the space, with the funds used to help support community-based arts groups.
Puppetry of the Penis also is playing venues in Philadelphia and Seattle this summer, with additional productions slated for the United Kingdom and Australia in the fall.
,,, Shakespeare, performed for hundreds of years, still draws full houses without the sort of hype this effort is so dependent on. I'm in New Zealand. Some months ago this show passed thru and there was significant controversy at the time, drawing the wrath of many - needless to say, the curiosity of enough to make the promoters richer as well. The Council of a town called Wanganui was first to state "enough", but I understand the show staged anyhow.
If I were to buy a ticket, I'm certain the value I would get would be considerably less than the common sense views displayed on this thread for free. Witness our collective slide down the ladder.
Don't insult dogs. But come to think of it, my dogs have a good idea what to do when someone waves a wiener at them...
Dude, if yours has arms, then you might want to see somebody about that.
Is this covered under "on the job injury"
For years, I kept a clipped little cartoon in my office desk drawer...a guy stretched out with a little dragon "unit puppet"; he had a gloved knight on the 'working hand' and was asking the knight who might want to slay the evil dragon. The knight was replying, "I volunteer, O Royal Commander".
Don't get me wrong here....I only kept it in my desk because the office wimmins loved it and insisted on it's being brought out on occasion.
Oh, I wish I did! The gals axed to see it a year or so ago, and it had gone missing....hmmmm.
When I left that office I made a point to look for it, and it was gone......'twas a true classic. Sigh
So if a county school chose not to allow the Boy Scouts or an after-school Bible group to use their facilities, you wouldn't have a problem?
What do you mean, county school? A school doesn't choose anything.
Are you talking about the teachers? Scool principal? School district? County board? Parents? Community? Who "chose not to"?
I would have a problem if this decision were made by a select few spineless politically correct individuals with an agenda, yes.
And I'd recommend airing it after 11pm, so as not to scare the kiddies. Plus, they better use the chair. Lethal injection will not garner any significant ratings.
I nominate Mumia for the season premiere.
Nothing, actually. It had to do with your comment in post #36 which stated that you saw it on HBO and that "nobody sees it who doesn't pay to see it."
It just seemed to me that having that attitude would lead to your approval on anything HBO would care to show.
It just seemed to me that having that attitude would lead to your approval on anything HBO would care to show.
Yes, that’s my attitude. As long as their programming doesn’t break any laws (like child sex laws, or libel laws for instance) they can show whatever they like.
They are not using tax payer dollars. They are not invading any homes.
You not only have to invite them in, you have to pay them for the priviledge.
Am I correct in assuming, from your attitude, that you would like big momma government to step in and control their content? Do you fancy yourself a “conservative?”
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