ONE-ACT OUTRAGE
Homosexual depiction of the story of Christ stirs controversy
By RACHEL DUDLEY
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Campus Life
Controversial sparks continue to fly at Tarleton State University as undergraduate theatre class moves forward in their production of Terrence Mcnally's one-act play, Corpus Christi. The play is scheduled to perform on Texan Tour Day, March 27.
Openly homosexual playwright, Terrence Mcnally, presents his own portrayal of the birth, ministry and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His disciples; all of whom he portrays as homosexual lovers.
Although Jesus is renamed Joshua in the play, all of the disciples maintain their biblical names.
From the portrayal of Mary, the mother of "Joshua", as an abused drunkard, to "Joshua," named the "king of the queers," being crucified, Mcnally's play does not leave any part of the biblical account of the life Jesus Christ untouched.
"Knowing that what I'm writing is going to get produced, I can say whatever I want. Of course, you hope to connect with other people, but you're not writing to please them. There's a big difference. I can't tell you how it frees you." McNally said in an interview with New York Times Journalist David Richards.
Steeped in religious and homophobic controversy since Corpus Christi's debut at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York, the one-act play is met with the same controversy in Stephenville.
Many local religious leaders and members of the community have voiced their opposition to the Corpus Christi performance, and have called for Tarleton State University to take censorship action.
"I am very committed to this community and I take care when selecting productions," Associate Professor of Theatre, Mark Holtorf stated, "This particular act was selected, paid for and performed by students as part of the class curriculum."
Tarleton's faculty and administration met twice on Wednesday to discuss the university's course of action. At the time of this publication, the last meeting was still in progress.
Bound by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, Tarleton cannot ban the play regardless of the communities' reaction; therefore, the show will go on through the lens of one of the play's lines "If we have offended, so be it."
Openly homosexual playwright, Terrence Mcnally, presents his own portrayal of the birth, ministry and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His disciples; all of whom he portrays as homosexual lovers.
Although Jesus is renamed Joshua in the play, all of the disciples maintain their biblical names.
From the portrayal of Mary, the mother of "Joshua", as an abused drunkard, to "Joshua," named the "king of the queers," being crucified, Mcnally's play does not leave any part of the biblical account of the life Jesus Christ untouched.
"Knowing that what I'm writing is going to get produced, I can say whatever I want. Of course, you hope to connect with other people, but you're not writing to please them. There's a big difference. I can't tell you how it frees you." McNally said in an interview with New York Times Journalist David Richards.
Steeped in religious and homophobic controversy since Corpus Christi's debut at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York, the one-act play is met with the same controversy in Stephenville.
Many local religious leaders and members of the community have voiced their opposition to the Corpus Christi performance, and have called for Tarleton State University to take censorship action.
"I am very committed to this community and I take care when selecting productions," Associate Professor of Theatre, Mark Holtorf stated, "This particular act was selected, paid for and performed by students as part of the class curriculum."
Tarleton's faculty and administration met twice on Wednesday to discuss the university's course of action. At the time of this publication, the last meeting was still in progress.
Bound by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, Tarleton cannot ban the play regardless of the communities' reaction; therefore, the show will go on through the lens of one of the play's lines "If we have offended, so be it."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 59
Bo Davidson
posted 3/11/10 @ 11:23 PM CST
Judging by the list of benefactors for Tarleton, this may not sit well with them. May not be good news for those who rely on scholarships.
That aside, I want to actually see this and see what all the hype is about. (Continued…)
anonymous
posted 3/12/10 @ 8:33 AM CST
I think all of the attention that this little play is getting, may backfire on the protesters.
This may turn out to be the most well attended one act plays in the History of TSU. (Continued…)
anonymous1
posted 3/12/10 @ 5:25 PM CST
This just makes me wonder what the administration will do. This is almost as controversial as the "MLK Party" not too long in the past. The administration did not protect the student?s first amendment rights in their case. (Continued…)
Billy Joe Young
posted 3/15/10 @ 1:27 AM CST
The decesion made by the President of Tarleton State University was a very poor judgment on his part for letting this happen. As a person that represents our university by participating in Texan Reps it makes me embarassed to claim that i attend Tarleton State University due to the poor judgment made by theater art students and the president. (Continued…)
anonymous
posted 3/15/10 @ 7:51 AM CST
Just to get the facts straight here,this controversial play was chosen by one student for his individual one act play. The other students in the class each chose a separate play to direct. (Continued…)
Kent
Kent
posted 3/15/10 @ 7:51 PM CST
It's funny that in today's world, it seems that even the slightest form of religious symbolism in a state supported entity is met with protest, yet when it's outright blasphemy it's accepted as freedom of speech. (Continued…)
Drew
posted 3/15/10 @ 9:21 PM CST
Get over it. It's theatre. It's college kids exploring and learning. If you aren't interested, don't go. Or maybe you can go burn some books on campus if that makes you feel better. (Continued…)
anonymous
posted 3/16/10 @ 11:05 AM CST
Yeah let's burn some books...that will show everyone how er um enlightened we are!!!!
CkOne
posted 3/17/10 @ 11:06 AM CST
No one would dare mock the Muslims or Jews, so why are we allowed to mock the Christians?
This is the state (Tarleton State Uni) condemming and blaspheming my religion. (Continued…)
Chris Patrick
posted 3/19/10 @ 4:44 PM CST
The difference between this play and the racist party is an interesting debate. Maybe the university might have been too hard on the students. The students were rightfully mocked in the public eye, but can the university step in the way it did? You have to consider the intent and the context of the offending party and play. (Continued…)
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