In Small Town, 'Grease' Ignites a Culture War

[Ruffhowse]

FULTON, Mo. — When Wendy DeVore, the drama teacher at Fulton High here, staged the musical "Grease," about high school students in the 1950's, she carefully changed the script to avoid causing offense in this small town.

She softened the language, substituting slang for profanity in places. Instead of smoking "weed," the teenagers duck out for a cigarette. She rated the production PG-13, advising parents it was not suitable for small children.

But a month after the performances in November, three letters arrived on the desk of Mark Enderle, Fulton's superintendent of schools. Although the letters did not say so, the three writers were members of a small group linked by e-mail, all members of the same congregation, Callaway Christian Church.

Each criticized the show, complaining that scenes of drinking, smoking and a couple kissing went too far, and glorified conduct that the community tries to discourage. One letter, from someone who had not seen the show but only heard about it, criticized "immoral behavior veiled behind the excuse of acting out a play."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/11/national/11fulton.html?ei=5090&en=69f393f73f12ba55&ex=1297314000&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

[Ian David]

1. If these church ladies at Callaway Xian Church have so much free time...

I guess there aren't any hungry or poor people in Fulton, MO needing to be fed.

And I guess all their husbands are satisfied in every way if you know what I mean.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. What? No hussies need stoning?

--p!

[Inland]

3. Grease is pretty bawdy. I know they cleaned it up, but

its better suited for adults with nostalgia than teens.

I read the article, and what really incensed me is that The Crucible is now verboten. THAT I can't abide.

[EC]

4. Our High School here has been doing Grease off and on for years

gets Raves and is sold out every showing...This year they did Aida...if they don't like, just don't go or let their kids act in it...problem solved, who do they think they are to tell others what to like of dislike? I'm getting damn tired of this shit, and I'm a very patient person, so just think how a lot of other people feel, who aren't as patient as I....this will hurt them in the long run, when people begin to hear whaa, whaa, whaa, instead of words....

[catabryna]

5. Wow!

I saw Grease (the movie) at the drive-in when I was 13 and saw it performed on the stage when I was 15. While I can see where some might consider it bawdy... it wasn't so offensive that it couldn't be performed by my high school's drama class the year after I graduated from high school (circa. 1983). Sure, it's not a "classic" but done with a modicum of decorum, as was attempted here, I have a difficult time understanding why we can't expose kids to situations much less provacative than what they live in their every days lives! I find Grease nearly sickeningly sweet!

Neither, Grease nor The Crucible, I believe, are inherently inappropriate for high schoolers to perform or see. They touch on different subject matters, yes... but, 3 parents don't make a majority! Yikes, it seems as if we are trying to roll back the clock on everything these days and I am nearly 41 years old and have a five year old in my home! I survived.. and I'm sure I'm not alone! When did we become so delicate?

Edited to add, at the risk of offense: When did we become so snobby?

[Inland]

6. I can tell you that when my nieces sang some tunes, I was more than

a little uncomfortable and hoping that lyrics like "really shoot some cream in Greased Lightening" went over their heads.

Is it more provocative than what kids are already exposed to. Certainly not. Is it reinforcing the same as cute and a means to a happy ending? Certainly yes.

I don't think that's being snobby. Calling Grease too light is snobby. I just don't think it's that clean. It's about kids, but it's for adults, adults for whom the adolescent desire to get laid is a distant concern suitable for nostalgia.

The Crucible isn't making matters cute or appealing to prurience.

[catabryna]

7. The lyrics are...

"You are supreme, the chicks 'll scream for greased lightening".

Or, we could emphasise different sounds and it could be:

"You are supreme, the chicks 'll cream, for greased lightning."

I have always understood the lyrics to be the former. But, were I to have heard the latter and understood those to be the lyrics... well, frankly, most teenage girls do get the warmies for hot guys with cool cars! Oh my...

Either which way, neither of the above is on the same level as "shoot some cream". That is light porn and I'd likely object to that being in a high school play.

In light of the above, I should tell you that when I grew up, the word "bawdy" was considered to be a negative word in that it was used with disdain to represent the prurient thoughts of the lower class who supposedly lacked any "class" whatsoever. So, to me it is just a snobby word that is used to convey more than what it really means. I'd prefer not to think of you that way and feel that you were probably trying to say you found something "offensive".

But, to each his own... that's one of the reasons why I love our country!

[Inland]

9. Oh, man, you aren't helping.

I think I've pretty much called it. It's cute and fun for adults, but so are a lot of things that don't belong in the one play the school picks.

And it wasn't offensive. It was bawdy, and I'm not sure of any connotation between it and class. up. Bawdy connotes fun. Benny Hill is bawdy. Dirty connotes offensive.

[catabryna]

8. Oh... and I have to add one other thing...

"pussy wagon" refers to a bunch of "tomcats" out doing their thing with their more visual appendage, a car. Heterosexual (though I don't know enough to necessarily limit such a statement to them alone) males more often than not tend to use their vehicles as an extension of their masculinity.

Edit: typo

[Inland]

10. Oh man, you REALLY aren't helping.

I think my point is made. It's cute when there's a distance. But there's no distance between that sort of thought and high school. I'm not that old. I remember.