Cast Accepts New Script Changes Hot I Baltimore' Rehearsals Resume
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HE DAILY SKIFF " v \ olume 71. Number 60 lexas Christian University. tori Worth, Texan 76129 Tuesday. February 10. 1976 Cast accepts new script changes Hot I Baltimore' rehearsals resume Bj LISA DEELEY SMITH Vssociate Editor "Hoi ! Baltimore" rehearsals have moved into the Scott ow is back on alter the east vot Fridaj to play the script with fewer alterations than the on had originally demanded and slightly d it would allow 1 >i Hem and director- he results of ,i Fridaj afternoon in which h< ir Gaylan Hot I" production ra Coble cast Harv •r Thom er nt with these cha .in W< " Hammack said Thursday moon Brewer told the Faculty Senate the show could DR. HENRY HAMMACK (ON STACK) DISCUSSES NEW SCRIPT CHANGES WITH HOT I BALTIMORE" (AST to be produced unless all uses of a seven letter phemous oath taking God's name in vain he changed damage the integrity of the script and infringe upon our human sexual intercourse and basic human functions.'hen damn" and unless Hammack cut a page long scene artistic and academic freedoms." three out of five references to male genitalia. where a prostitute describes her sexual activities of the Hammack said he was told these cuts were not enough previous night This statement might be inserted in the play programs, Hammack said. but no further cuts were offered Tuesday and Wednesday Part ol this confusion arose because Brewer and Tade "I don't see that there needs to be a statement," of last week the cast voted not to produce the play with thought the cuts had been made by George Sorensen. Sorensen said. "There was agreement. To protest any more cuts. chairman of the Theatre Arts Department, and presented agreement is a strange thing " On Wednesday afternoon Brewer read the script to see to Hammack. while Hammack said he never heard of the Had the cast won a victory by performing the play with if the Chancellor would approve the cuiS. "Dean Brewer cuts fewer alterations than the administration had demanded0 did take the script and felt those cuts did not warrant Sorensen said later tie was asked to make cuts to "in- "No," Hammack said "We've still be censored. going 'o the Chancellor." Sorensen told the Wednesday- terpret the guidelines more broadly" than they had been "if you excise every line that makes a lewd suggestion meeting of cast members and theatre majors. with the original 17 cuts After making them, he said. "I but doesn't voice it, then you're altering the character. Thursday the Faculty Senate passed by voice vote a could not stand on them morally or artistically ."and never Then you have to change three or so lines around it, and resolution introduced by Dr. Neil Daniel, associate before you know you're taking ou* whole chunks— which professor of English, which protested censorship in any "We strongly protest the is what they wanted to do. form, specifically any censorship of "Hot 1." "A lot of people who come to see the play (because of the After the cast had voted not to accept any more cuts. alterations imposed upon us which publicity) are going to be surprised and dismayed Sorensen congratulated them on their stand. "I still stand because they thought this was a filthy play They're going on that," he said Monday. we feel . infringe upon our to ask, What was this all about?' Part of the problem in cutting the play rose from the "1 hope it (the play) is as exciting as the events that contract the University signed which said "substantive artistic and academic freedoms" have surrounded it," Sorensen said. "I hope the public comes to see it as theatre." Sorensen: "/ hope it is as showed them to Hammack and never considered them a "The difficulty 1 find in this situation is counting the serious version winners and losers," he said. "I don't always read the exciting as the events that scoreboard I would prefer just to hope there aren't too By the Friday afternoon session, the administration many losses in values, commitment and integrity " have surrounded it" agreed to leave the blasphemous oaths Brewer referred to "Personal and institutional freedoms are always alterations" could not be made in the play. Hammack in the script. Hammack said, and "we didn't even have to bounded by limits' - sometimes clearly and sometimes said At one point Sorensen called the publishers and was ask them to put it I the page Brewer wanted left out I back poorly defined." Tade said in a released statement. "No in." told that no changes could be made. institution of higher education operates without 'limits' However, Marcus Ginsberg. University lawyer "has The only actual changes, outside of the original 17, in set at some level. Defining the appropriate level is always indicated ithe script changes) do not constitute a sub- volved changing all expletive uses of "Jesus" or "Christ" difficult and may lead to controversy reflecting honest stantive change.' Tade said. to "God" and excising one other line differences of opinion." According to the Bill of Student Rights and Respon- One of two lines referring to male genitals had a Guidelines concerning the selection of plays will lie sibilities, approved by Moudy in 1973, "all forms of preposition altered The other line was included in a list, drawn up. Tade said "] think we'll wait until the play is student entertainment, e g films, drama, dance and art along with a rhyming nickname for the vice squad and a over," he said "They're busy." shall be free of censorship, provided that facilities have line about a stick of candy, that the administration "I don't think this has set the precedent on what can or been adequately secured." requested be altered cannot he presented or shown because every play and The new draft of the Bill, which has been approved by no I lie cast discussed and rejected possible alterations for every word has a context," Sorensen said. official body, states that "all productions should be r abotll l. ) minutes "Then you've got them." Hammack Hammack and Sorensen said faculty protests would be conducted in a manner consistent with an academic said."But I had to ask you first if you could come up with communicated "through channels " The Play Selection community and consistent with the philosophy and ob- anything else " Committee chose the play last year "It was a play as a jectivea of Texas Christian University Judgments "I think that's it," he said "Can you live with if" department we selected and supported by announcing We regarding controversies in these areas shall be made by By the next day the cast had issued the following weren't directly involved by shocking or changing the Public Presentation Committee, subject to con- statement: "We, the cast of 'Hot 1 Baltimore,' have anyone's values This was not a propaganda play," currence by the Chancellor " The present situation has agreed to perform the modified script. However, we and Sorensen said never gone to any such committee all the students of the Theatre Arts Department strongly During registration week Hammack first heard there Both Brewer and Moudy were out of town Monday and protest the alteration imposed upon us which we feel might be objections to the play He cut the 14 references to could not be reached for comment. THE DAILY SKIFF Tuesday, February 10,1976 Spirit of compromise commended making the decisions necessary to con realistic of Hammack and the cast to of the play. However, compromise is The cast and director of "Hot 1 accept the final set of changes. The preferable to stubborness, and we realize Baltimore" should be commended for first tinue the production. Dr. Hammack said the cast didn't win solution is not ideal, and it is sad that the the administration -ould have been more sticking by their principles and cancelling administration was allowed to censor the stubborn than it was. the production and then acting reasonably any victo-y, because the play still has been censored. We don't begrudge his opinions, play. in arriving at a compromise. Unfortunately, the one problem the but we think he and his cctors have indeed However, no ideal solution could be We don't like this compromise, because compromise didn't settle was the issue of won a victory, even if they don't yet realize found to the confrontation that existed last it results in the censoring of an artistic censorship, which really is the issue at week. The play had been cancelled, and production. However, we do like com- it. In any situation such as the one that we don't think that would have been the stake. promise as a way of solving problems, and existed last week, a victory is Umited. The best solution if an effective compromise we recognize that this confrontation had no The compromise indicates that the administration has enough power that it could be reached. easy or perfect solution. administration can't make wholesale simply will not lose any confrontation The administration saved some face by The actors were unquestionably right in changes in the script of a play to be com^ jely. Any victory can only be flexing its muscles and getting presented. However, it did ailow the vie n re,ative acquiescence on some minor demands. Opinion 'ardc terms. administration to tamper with the script jj.0j,ative terms, Hammack and the More importantly, the cast made its point tT >n the confrontation with the ad- and can continue to protest.