John Lithgow and Diane Wiest in Footloose
John Lithgow in Footloose.
Posted on 03/18/2006 10:46:26 AM PST by Lunatic Fringe
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A central Missouri high school drama teacher whose spring play was canceled after complaints about tawdry content in one of her previous productions will resign rather than face a possible firing.
"It became too much to not be able to speak my mind or defend my students without fear or retribution," said Fulton High School teacher Wendy DeVore.
DeVore's students were to perform Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," a drama set during the 17th Century Salem witch trials.
But after a handful of Callaway Christian Church members complained about scenes in the fall musical "Grease" that showed teens smoking, drinking and kissing, Superintendent Mark Enderle told DeVore to find a more family-friendly substitute.
DeVore chose Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," a classic romantic comedy with its own dicey subject matter, including suicide, rape and losing one's virginity.
DeVore, 31, a six-year veteran teacher, said administrators told her that her annual contract might not be renewed.
"Maybe I need to find a school that's a better match," she said.
Both Enderle and the high school principal declined to discuss DeVore's resignation, citing privacy concerns. The resignation must still be approved by the school board.
Publicity over the drama debate, including a front-page story in The New York Times, has cast an unflattering light on Fulton as an intolerant small town, several of DeVore's colleagues said.
"We have become a laughingstock," teacher Paula Fessler told The Fulton Sun.
I dislike Henry Miller intensely.
Didn't they make a movie about this...Porky's II?
"I dislike Henry Miller intensely."
I don't know if I'd go that far. I had a drink with him and Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1964 at Vesuvio in North Beach in San Francisco.
He was a good conversationalist, but he didn't bathe frequently enough. He carried something of a nasty, sour aura around him.
A year later, I was in the USAF, and got over all that Beat Generation stuff.
Whose a liberal? Do you find the play "Grease" to be the equivalent of Marxism?
"Well......There are also a lot PC sactimonious prissies who complain if Silent Night is sung by school choruses.
"
Yeah, there are. They're wrong, too. I can think of no sensible reason that Christmas songs should not be performed at High Schools. It makes no sense.
One of my favorite bars. Next to City Lights and across from Adler's Specs.
I really dislike the whole "naturalistic" writing thing.
"Family friendly? With the lyrics "She's a real pussy wagon", and "the chicks'll cream". Not to mention the whole song There Are Worse Things, which is about a girl who worries she is pregnant.
"
Actually, if you take the time to read some of the other stories on the web about this whole thing, you'll find that the teacher toned down the "Grease" show quite a bit to make it a little more friendly. Still, it's a pretty popular play and movie. Last time I saw it, there were lots of families in attendance.
As for being a laughing stock at the New York Times, I suggest they wear that as a badge of honor.
"One of my favorite bars. Next to City Lights and across from Adler's Specs.
"
Yeah, I like it too. Back then, it was a pretty exciting place, if you were of a literary bent. All those old beats pretty much sat in there all day long, and didn't much mind if you joined them...as long as you were buying.
I met a lot of those folks there, briefly. They were OK to talk to, if a little arrogant, but they were all broke and depended on fans to pay for their liquor. I found that amusing at the time, and find it even more amusing now. Some snotty-nosed kid gets to chat with famous people...as long as he's willing to buy drinks. Funny.
When I was out there Corso was still hanging around, but it was pretty much the tail end of the thing.
Drugs really wiped out that entire generation of writers.
"She could have capitulated and didn't...her choice. Now the administrators can put on a play that they are comfortable with and she can work where she is appreciated."
Drugs and booze. Henry Miller was a lush. I don't know how he managed to write what he did, although it reads a bit like a drunken dream.
The early 60's were pretty interesting in San Francisco. I was in college...just out of high school, and I drove up there almost every weekend. Pretty heady stuff for a 19 year old kid. Changed my life in many ways, but so did four years in the military. Interesting contrast, to say the least.
I spent a lot of time talking to the "old timers" in North Beach as well as the Haight. Basically the same story, it started as a party and eventually turned ugly.
Shaped my views on excess.
BTW, Porky's 2 is grossly underrated, IMHO. The scene where Wendy has dinner with the congressman is the funniest thing I've ever seen.
John Lithgow and Diane Wiest in Footloose
John Lithgow in Footloose.
Let me get this straight. To you, Grease and Shakespeare = Brokeback Mountain. Is that what you're saying?
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