Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"
Have any of you read or seen Noel Coward's play Blithe Spirit?
Did you find anything objectionable about the subject matter?
How about using it for a high school drama production?
Please answer only if you are truly familiar with the play, not just looking at Wikipedia, etc.
I will tell you why I need the info in a bit.
Replies
422
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
I have just had a chance to go back read some of the recent posts in this thread. I am very, very impressed by the communication skills of so many of you from SWHS. I also wanted to wish all of you that are fighting for your Drama Department, good luck!!!! I wish I could be there to voice my opinion, but I will be there in spirit!!!!! Hang in there and keep fighting for what you believe in.
Hi Darg Vader.
(Love your location, that is too funny).
Hi Darg Vader.
(Love your location, that is too funny).
SoWal Insider
Sending good vibes your way tonight. I am impressed at the youth here posting their opinions on this Board and who have voiced their opinions so intelligently on other media through out Sowal. You deserve to put on a production and interpret any works you and your families deem suitable.
So go break a leg.
So go break a leg.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
T minus 1 hour. Hope to see some y'all at the high school!
SoWal Insider
T minus 1 hour. Hope to see some y'all at the high school!
I'll be there with you in.....well, not body, but certainly in spirit.
SoWal Expert
Kick some narrow minded interfering arse! :boxing:
SoWal ExpertAuthor
Kick some narrow minded interfering arse! :boxing:
Meet me there!!
Meow
Any news?
SoWal Expert
Any news?
We need SJ and his blackberry there!
Beach Lover
Yeah
I guess you could call it a Win(*).
The asterisk means it ain't over till it's over!
3 yes 2 no
I guess you could call it a Win(*).
The asterisk means it ain't over till it's over!
3 yes 2 no
Beach Lover
One thing is FOR SURE! There is NO doubt any longer about WHO is on WHICH side with the school board, teachers, principal, ect
Beach Fanatic
Freedom of speech & thought prevailed!
ALL the students who spoke to the assemblage deserve our respect and applause. They are a fine, thoughtful, well spoken group of people, and they
have every right to be proud of how well they expressed their views!
ALL the students who spoke to the assemblage deserve our respect and applause. They are a fine, thoughtful, well spoken group of people, and they
have every right to be proud of how well they expressed their views!
SoWal Expert
Freedom of speech & thought prevailed!
ALL the students who spoke to the assemblage deserve our respect and applause. They are a fine, thoughtful, well spoken group of people, and they
have every right to be proud of how well they expressed their views!
Meow
Bottom line?
Beach Lover
Bottom Line is that the kids won't get suspended from school if they get caught with a copy of Blithe Spirit in their backpack.
Beach Crab
Well, hello everyone! I am a Senior at SoWal High School and a member of the drama program at the school. I have been in several past performances including Beauty and the Beast, The Musicman, and Fame.
Prior to this whole thing, I actually had no idea that SoWal had a messageboard! But now that I know, I will become a dedicated lurker as I am apt to do to many messageboards in general.
As far as how the meeting tonight went, I would like to say that both sides went up and placed their points upon the table calmly and with civility. With the exception of two events (one of which the members of the board were attempting to figure out just what they were suppose to vote on, and the other consisted of many full-grown adults, whom should really know better, interrupting one of said members to vehemently express their feelings concerning the holiday of Halloween) the process went quite well.
In the end, the voting came out as a 3 to 2 in favor of allowing Blithe Spirit to stay within the Walton County Curriculum.
This is a bittersweet victory, however, due to the fact that our esteemed principal, Mark Ewing, stated with great certainty that he would never allow the play Blithe Spirit to be performed at SoWal High School as it is written.
So at the end of it all, it comes out to us being allowed legally to do the play, but not allowed administratively to do it.
Oh well, in the end, one must roll with the punches. X}
Prior to this whole thing, I actually had no idea that SoWal had a messageboard! But now that I know, I will become a dedicated lurker as I am apt to do to many messageboards in general.
As far as how the meeting tonight went, I would like to say that both sides went up and placed their points upon the table calmly and with civility. With the exception of two events (one of which the members of the board were attempting to figure out just what they were suppose to vote on, and the other consisted of many full-grown adults, whom should really know better, interrupting one of said members to vehemently express their feelings concerning the holiday of Halloween) the process went quite well.
In the end, the voting came out as a 3 to 2 in favor of allowing Blithe Spirit to stay within the Walton County Curriculum.
This is a bittersweet victory, however, due to the fact that our esteemed principal, Mark Ewing, stated with great certainty that he would never allow the play Blithe Spirit to be performed at SoWal High School as it is written.
So at the end of it all, it comes out to us being allowed legally to do the play, but not allowed administratively to do it.
Oh well, in the end, one must roll with the punches. X}
Beach Lover
Mark Ewing had a couple of lively and VERY verbal "hench-persons" (don't want to be sexist here) on the School Board one of whom ALSO made it very clear that SHE would not allow it even if Mark did! (
Beach Comber
Bottom line: Blithe Spirit is approved to remain in the curriculum. However, under the current principal and superintendent, the play will not be performed without certain altercations, including the removal of all alcohol references and cursing. Our fear is that it may be impossible to secure the copyright to butcher, for lack of a better word, the play. Basically, the decision to perform rests on elected individuals, which makes our current pridicament in no way permanent. All in all, I'd say tonight's result was a positive one, and a step in catching this county up with the rest of the country.
Beach Comber
bottom line the christian did prevail no matter what the vote was.....
the superintendent stated that the play will never be in any of her schools because of the language and content and the same thing was said by the principal of SoWal high school.
the main reason for this is copyright laws that prohibit them from changing any part of the script.
THUS, this play will never be seen on a stage at a walton county school but is will stay in the curriculum.
If you were at SoWal High tonight i hope you read the sign by the restrooms stating "Choices we make today, dictate the lives we lead."...just think about that.
the superintendent stated that the play will never be in any of her schools because of the language and content and the same thing was said by the principal of SoWal high school.
the main reason for this is copyright laws that prohibit them from changing any part of the script.
THUS, this play will never be seen on a stage at a walton county school but is will stay in the curriculum.
If you were at SoWal High tonight i hope you read the sign by the restrooms stating "Choices we make today, dictate the lives we lead."...just think about that.
Beach Fanatic
can some one please post the votes . were you guys aware of how the principal felt? Has this been the problem all along?
Beach Fanatic
This is how I understood it...JDarg & others will refine / correct this if I didn't get the essence or facts correct.
1. Blithe Spirit will remain "in the curriculum" ... meaning it will remain available in the library (not be banned or burned). As long as it's "in the curriculum" it lives to see another day.
2. Whether or not Blithe Spirit can ever be performed in a Walton County school became a moot point at this moment in time because:
A. The principal publicly stated that no play performance at SWHS will contain profanity, alcoholism, or tobacco.
B. The Blithe Spirit copywrite stipulates the content-script-language cannot be changed ("sanitized") without express permission from the Noel Coward estate. As of today, That Permission to make changes has not been obtained (neither has it been expressly denied.) There has simply been no response to the request.
3. One of the board members made a delightfully pointed observation ;-) to the assemblage (and I paraphrase):
"The ANTI Blithe Spirit Campaign ... practically guarantees that masses of students (who probably never gave it 2 thoughts before all the hoopla), will now be RACING TO READ IT."
SNAP! The fears you put the most energy behind are the ones you bring to pass....
1. Blithe Spirit will remain "in the curriculum" ... meaning it will remain available in the library (not be banned or burned). As long as it's "in the curriculum" it lives to see another day.
2. Whether or not Blithe Spirit can ever be performed in a Walton County school became a moot point at this moment in time because:
A. The principal publicly stated that no play performance at SWHS will contain profanity, alcoholism, or tobacco.
B. The Blithe Spirit copywrite stipulates the content-script-language cannot be changed ("sanitized") without express permission from the Noel Coward estate. As of today, That Permission to make changes has not been obtained (neither has it been expressly denied.) There has simply been no response to the request.
3. One of the board members made a delightfully pointed observation ;-) to the assemblage (and I paraphrase):
"The ANTI Blithe Spirit Campaign ... practically guarantees that masses of students (who probably never gave it 2 thoughts before all the hoopla), will now be RACING TO READ IT."
SNAP! The fears you put the most energy behind are the ones you bring to pass....
Beach Fanatic
I sincerely hope that the choices I made today dictate the life I will lead. If that's the case, I don't have anything to worry about.
Goodwitch58, the final vote was 3 -Aye, 2- Nay.
Goodwitch58, the final vote was 3 -Aye, 2- Nay.
Beach Fanatic
thanks, but what I want to know is who voted which way. names please.
Beach Crab
There is one thing one must understand about Mark Ewing.
The man is usually quite alright with the majority of things that his students do, so long as none of it is completely horrid.
However, when he is put on the spot, as to choosing between one thing or the other, one belief or the other, he'll talk in circles without answering the questions until people just walk away out of annoyance.
He actually made one of the board members roll his eyes at the lengthiness and lack of direction of one of his answers.
In my opinion, the whole thing was quite comedic.
At times, I wish that our system was more reminiscent of Fort Walton Beach High School's where they are allowed to display their creativity with the support of the outlying community. As previously stated, they were allowed to put on To Kill a Mockingbird, albeit with great difficulty, but after all that they went through, they were still capable of doing the play.
Unfortunately, we in SoWal High School do not have that privilege of going on about doing classical or just comedic plays (such as Yours Mine and Ourspace) without being censored and opposed at every other turn.
At the end of the day, it isn't about one religion winning out over evil heathens, or vise-versa, it is about societies' tolerance toward the uncensored expression of creativity that both the writers of the plays, and the actors in said plays, unquestionably deserve.
The man is usually quite alright with the majority of things that his students do, so long as none of it is completely horrid.
However, when he is put on the spot, as to choosing between one thing or the other, one belief or the other, he'll talk in circles without answering the questions until people just walk away out of annoyance.
He actually made one of the board members roll his eyes at the lengthiness and lack of direction of one of his answers.
In my opinion, the whole thing was quite comedic.
At times, I wish that our system was more reminiscent of Fort Walton Beach High School's where they are allowed to display their creativity with the support of the outlying community. As previously stated, they were allowed to put on To Kill a Mockingbird, albeit with great difficulty, but after all that they went through, they were still capable of doing the play.
Unfortunately, we in SoWal High School do not have that privilege of going on about doing classical or just comedic plays (such as Yours Mine and Ourspace) without being censored and opposed at every other turn.
At the end of the day, it isn't about one religion winning out over evil heathens, or vise-versa, it is about societies' tolerance toward the uncensored expression of creativity that both the writers of the plays, and the actors in said plays, unquestionably deserve.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
NAY -- Barnhill & the Blonde Female Board member (don't know her name).
AYE -- the other 3 board members.
AYE -- the other 3 board members.
Beach Crab
My thoughts,
I was tempted to put this as a rant but I didn’t’ want to have it on my page for that long. Yet it needs to be said, err… typed. I would like to complement everyone who voiced their opinions about the drama situation at the school. Whether you were for or against the production is irrelevant.
What I want to be sure to state clearly is, as a Christian I do not want this to turn anyone away from the church or cause you to judge someone’s devotion to Christ because of their stance on the subject. Paul writes (he’s a disciple of Christ who penned most of the new testament, for those of you who may not know) that each church and person are different members of the same body of Christ. Just as the foot cannot be the eye and the ear cannot be a tooth. The point of this is some churches teachings may be slightly different than yours, but take into consideration they are (and I assume because they claim to be Christian) in their own way proclaiming the Love of Christ. Please understand that you may not agree with their methods but their intentions are in the right place. DO not harbor a grudge or a judgmental spirit towards them.
On this same note if you were on the side of the churches at the meeting against the play do not harbor a grudge against those who believe differently than you. Instead find a way to show them Christ’s love and compassion. Through times like this we want to be sure and plant seeds of love and compassion so we can reap a harvest of hope.
Yes, I know some people may have made this personal and attacked the faculty or those associated with it with negative slander and rumors. Don’t feed into this by not forgiving them. Instead pray that they will have the conviction to see the error in their tactics.
And again, I’m proud of you students for keeping your cool and not taking or making this personal.
That’s it I’m out. That’s all I have to say. Case closed.
w/Christ
mL
I was tempted to put this as a rant but I didn’t’ want to have it on my page for that long. Yet it needs to be said, err… typed. I would like to complement everyone who voiced their opinions about the drama situation at the school. Whether you were for or against the production is irrelevant.
What I want to be sure to state clearly is, as a Christian I do not want this to turn anyone away from the church or cause you to judge someone’s devotion to Christ because of their stance on the subject. Paul writes (he’s a disciple of Christ who penned most of the new testament, for those of you who may not know) that each church and person are different members of the same body of Christ. Just as the foot cannot be the eye and the ear cannot be a tooth. The point of this is some churches teachings may be slightly different than yours, but take into consideration they are (and I assume because they claim to be Christian) in their own way proclaiming the Love of Christ. Please understand that you may not agree with their methods but their intentions are in the right place. DO not harbor a grudge or a judgmental spirit towards them.
On this same note if you were on the side of the churches at the meeting against the play do not harbor a grudge against those who believe differently than you. Instead find a way to show them Christ’s love and compassion. Through times like this we want to be sure and plant seeds of love and compassion so we can reap a harvest of hope.
Yes, I know some people may have made this personal and attacked the faculty or those associated with it with negative slander and rumors. Don’t feed into this by not forgiving them. Instead pray that they will have the conviction to see the error in their tactics.
And again, I’m proud of you students for keeping your cool and not taking or making this personal.
That’s it I’m out. That’s all I have to say. Case closed.
w/Christ
mL
Edited
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.