Play in which Laura Bush reads to dead Iraqi children

[kskiska]

Free speech—or un-American? Bay State town goes to war with H’wood

A controversial play with an Oscar-winning actress portraying Laura Bush reading to dead Iraqi children will go on despite a local official blasting the show as ``anti-American propaganda.''

``I'm not an anti-free speech nut,'' said Bill Donovan, a North Adams city councilor who was outraged that the Tony Kushner play was being held at the C-T Plunkett Elementary School in Adams. The play is not school-sponsored.

``The play (implies) over and over that the American military fighting the war on terror are baby murderers. That's what I object to,'' said Donovan, whose son is serving in Afghanistan.

The play - ``Only We Who Guard The Mystery Shall Be Unhappy'' - stars actress Marcia Gay Harden, who also starred in Kushner's Broadway production of ``Angels in America'' and in the Boston-filmed movie ``Mystic River.''

(snip)

In the play, the first lady reads to dead Iraqi children and ``goes through complex emotions,'' about the war, Heilman said.

more…
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=69271

[Arkana]

1. It's free speech, and it makes a powerful point

"I'm not an anti-free speech nut..." Yeah, right.

[Goblinmonger]

10. Isn't declaring you aren't something

The first line of defense for idiots; e.g. "I'm not a racist, but I don't want to live next to a nigger."

[MountainLaurel]

2. Damn, when's it coming to DC

I'll be first in line for tickets.

[LisaLynne]

3. It's unrealistic.

"In the play, the first lady reads to dead Iraqi children and ``goes through complex emotions,'' about the war, Heilman said."

That woman is incapable of having complex emotions. Eventually, she'll just take the words from Soulless Barbara and not bother her "beautiful mind" with such things.

[rainy]

4. Thanks for posting this. I would like to see it.

Heartbreaking as it must be.

[izzybeans]

5. "I'm not an anti-free speech nut" but I'll be damned

if you actually do speak!:9

[dolo amber]

6. Ok...

"The play (implies) over and over that the American military fighting the war on terror are baby murderers..."

Are Iraqi babies dead? Is the US military responsible for their deaths? Seems to be a pretty logical conclusion to draw...

Oh, but I forgot...they were already born. :eyes:

[Lisabtrucking]

7. Art, how I love true art. Hope it comes to florida, I agree that a**

in the white house has no clue on the suffering of others.

[Armstead]

8. What the locals say

Kushner work applauded

By Nicole Sequino
Berkshire Eagle Staff

ADAMS -- A benefit play reading for the Topia Arts Center featuring Marcia Gay Harden as first lady Laura Bush provoked intense discussions over the show's political content at C.T. Plunkett Elementary School yesterday.
The new Tony Kushner play, "Only We Who Guard the Mystery Shall Be Unhappy," also attracted criticism from North Adams City Councilor William Donovan. Donovan released a statement Wednesday claiming that the script is an "anti-war, anti-American propaganda piece" that should not be performed at a public school.

Standing ovation

The play nonetheless earned many laughs and a standing ovation from a few hundred people and helped raise much-needed funding to renovate the Topia theater, said executive director Nana Simpolous. Simopoulos and her partner, co-founder Caryn Heilman, plan to refurbish the 1937 Adams theater by early spring.


<cut>

Harden, who earned an Academy Award for her role in "Pollock" in 2001, said the play was an important reminder of the importance of free speech. "This is America," she said. "The whole point is that we can voice our opposition, and we seem to sometimes have to fight for those opportunities."

<cut>


The play also created dialogue in the hard-working, industrial town of Adams, Strathairn added. "It's unheard of to have this kind of venue here," he said. "The play was important as a catalyst to start off the Topia Arts space, which will offer a continual place for people to speak out. What a great thing for the town of Adams."
"It was an hour of refreshing discussion, and a bit of a comedy," said Adams Selectmen Chairman Joseph R. Dean Jr. "I'm not going to change my mind on the war, but it was interesting and worthwhile."

"I thought the scenes were very well done, and that most points were well made," said Diane Parsons of North Adams.

As he left the theater, Selectman Edward Driscoll said the play pointed to the country's free speech rights. "Thank God for the First Amendment," he said. "People sometimes forget that's what this country is all about."

[SmokingJacket]

9. Marcia Gay Harden ROCKS.

I'd love to see her play a fictional Laura Bush. Wow!!!

[Lisa]

11. here is a preview of the script

http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20030324&s=kushner

I would love to see this play. Apparently there have been several versions, e.g. the MoveOn benefit with Kristen Johnston ("3rd Rock from the Sun") as the narrator, and Patricia Clarkson ("Dogville") as the Angel, and John Cameron Mitchell as the First Lady. Major props to the performers and the author!

Kushner was also working on a new scene ...

http://archive.salon.com/ent/feature/2004/08/04/kushner_scene/