Andrew Lloyd-Webber says political correctness is stifling creativity

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | 09 Sep 2008 | Anita Singh

[forkinsocket]

Together with Tim Rice, Lord Lloyd-Webber began his theatre career with two shows that drew on Christian tradition - Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Now theatreland's most successful composer, who is currently planning a new BBC talent search to find a Dorothy for a West End production of The Wizard of Oz, has spoken of his fears that political correctness is stifling creativity.

In an interview looking back on his triumphs, Lord Lloyd-Webber said: "I'm lucky to have had such a successful career. I'm actually lucky enough to have always done as I want.

"I look back at when I was younger and ask myself would I have written an opera with Tim Rice? So many people nowadays are obsessed with things offending people. Today people say you can't do this because it will offend that community, and then you can't say this because the Muslims will be offended by it and we'll end up being talked out of it. Talked out of ideas. Whereas when I was 20 I didn't think about those things - you could just do it."

Rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar was controversial in its day. Its 1971 Broadway debut was met with protests by Christian groups who believed it was blasphemous and Jewish organisations who alleged it was anti-Semitic.

[forkinsocket]

.

[Loud Mime]

True. I wish Mel Brooks would make up a “blazing saddles-style film about Islam

[Da Coyote]

Yup, UK, you’re reaping what you sowed. Liberal bravery is only directed towards those whom they feel won’t hurt them.

[Vaquero]

True. I wish Mel Brooks would make up a “blazing saddles-style film about Islam

yeah he could call it “Flaming @$$h0le$”

[Mercat]

Rice also did Aladdin which got criticizm for being politically incorrect. I don’t remember whether Webber wrote the music.

My two sons were in community theater productions of Dreamcoat and Superstar. They were amazing (the shows although my sons were too.)

My older son was also in Godspell, performed at his public hs during holy week. wow!

[Pontiac]

Yup, UK, you’re reaping what you sowed. Liberal bravery is only directed towards those whom they feel won’t hurt them.

That is a bit of an understatement, offend the Muslims and they will kill you on the street and pin a note to your chest with a hunting knife.

[stanz]

I’m glad to see someone in the entertainment business admit this. Lloyd-Webber is probably the best spokesperson for Broadway which is a virtual cesspool of the far left. He’s already made his mark and doesn’t need to give a care whether anyone is offended or not by his lyrics or subject matter.

[Kieri]

True. I wish Mel Brooks would make up a “blazing saddles-style film about Islam

If anybody had the guts to do it, it would be Mel Brooks.

I was watching "Spaceballs" again (it's great brain Draino after too much politics), and this time I 'got' the Jewish humor. I also think he'd take a lot of flak if he made it with so much PC running around.

I'm not a huge fan of his movies, but watching him makes me smile. He's one guy who's having the time of his life and loves what he's doing.

[Fiji Hill]

West End production of The Wizard of Oz

I have always enjoyed The Wizard of Oz for its political references--the gold standard (the Yellow Brick Road), free silver (Dorothy's silver shoes) William Jennings Bryan (the Cowardly Lion--afraid to embrace the entire Populist agenda), Coxey's Army's march on Washington in 1894, the Panic of 1873, etc.

[TexasRepublic]

Here's some ideas to stimulate new theatrical creativity:

"Mohammad, Superstar"

"Aisha Does Mecca"

[Emperor Palpatine]

Composers have often been on the outs with authorities or self-appointed arbiters on controversial subjests. Verdi had to change names and set "Un Ballo en Maschera" in Boston, Massachussetts because Italian royalty was afraid the story of assassinating the Swedish king would give people ideas. The Catholic Church had issues with his "Don Carlos" because of the unflattering portraits of King Phillip II of Spain and the Holy Inquisition.

Dmitriy Shotakovitch became a non-person for almost a decade because the character of Uncle Vanya in his opera "Lady Macbeth of Mtensk" is a thinly disguised lampooning of Joe Stalin.

To this day you can't perform Wagner in Israel....all because of something Wagner wrote that was actually directed at one person in particular - his rival Giacomo Meyerbeer.

When I was in college I conducted 12 performances of Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar". This was back in the early 60's and we took some flak from the Hillel Foundation because of certain lines in the libretto. In the trial scene Pontius Pilate addresses the crowd with "Well this is new! respect for Caesar? Until now this has been noticeably lacking. Who is Jesus? What makes him special? You Jews produce messiahs by the sackful!"

Sometimes the critics just need to STFU and enjoy the show.

[Emperor Palpatine]

Composers have often been on the outs with authorities or self-appointed arbiters on controversial subjects. Verdi had to change names and set "Un Ballo en Maschera" in Boston, Massachussetts because Italian royalty was afraid the story of assassinating the Swedish king would give people ideas. The Catholic Church had issues with his "Don Carlos" because of the unflattering portraits of King Phillip II of Spain and the Holy Inquisition.

Dmitriy Shotakovitch became a non-person for almost a decade because the character of Uncle Vanya in his opera "Lady Macbeth of Mtensk" is a thinly disguised lampooning of Joe Stalin.

To this day you can't perform Wagner in Israel....all because of something Wagner wrote that was actually directed at one person in particular - his rival Giacomo Meyerbeer.

When I was in college I conducted 12 performances of Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar". This was back in the early 60's and we took some flak from the Hillel Foundation because of certain lines in the libretto. In the trial scene Pontius Pilate addresses the crowd with "Well this is new! respect for Caesar? Until now this has been noticeably lacking. Who is Jesus? What makes him special? You Jews produce messiahs by the sackful!"

Sometimes the critics just need to STFU and enjoy the show.

[lonevoice]

ping

[dfwgator]

There is no way Blazing Saddles could be made today.