By Katherine Sheets, Fiona Morgan and Lauren Hemenover
The cast and crew of the production “Play Ball” were notified on Monday, Feb. 18, that their show — set to open on Thursday, Feb. 21 — was canceled. Director Jeff Day wrote the script for “Play Ball” for his Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Utah in conjunction with Robert Redford University. Eighteen years after its first performance, it was coming to Asbury’s stage.
Jim Owens, Asbury’s dean of the School of Communication Arts, was approached by a student involved with the production who was uncomfortable with the content of the script. Dr. Jim Shores, chair of Asbury’s department of communication, worship arts and theater, had seen the script prior to Day’s sabbatical last semester and had determined the script needed edits. However, the script Owens reviewed per the student’s request wasn’t even the final version.
The process for developing the script was unique; lines were frequently adjusted and underwent constant rewrites. “It was to modernize the story a little bit,” said senior Josh Pelletier, a member of the cast. “We wanted to make some of the wording more relatable.” Day wanted the script to fit each of the actors in a way that made the story as authentic as possible.
However, rewrites were still being done 10 days out from opening night, according to Owens. “At that point, the copy we were shown still had a number of things that really weren’t appropriate for Asbury,” he said. In this case, Asbury-appropriate material is that which is suitable for all ages, as such a broad age group attends performances.
The plot centers around the relationship of Danny and Kristin as they work through the tensions of Danny’s job and their inability to conceive a child. The stress, disappointment and unfulfilled expectations leave their marriage unstable and void of romance, and they must confront whether to give up on their marriage or revive the love that they once had.
While the subject matter is serious and heavy, the humor integrated into the script is raw and original. The fact that the couple is trying to get pregnant is repeatedly used as a vehicle for humor. “The comedic devices in the play [were] the word ‘sex’ and … a youth group leader who got drunk,” said Owens. “This [material] is fine to study, but there are ways [to get] the message in the play without using those comedic devices.”
After reviewing the script, Owens was uncomfortable with the thought of it being performed at Asbury and, as is standard procedure, sent the script to Student Development for input. Vice President of Student Development Sarah Baldwin agreed with Owens, and the two of them then discussed the script with Day and Provost Dr. Timothy Wooster, who oversees all of academics. In the end, they agreed that while the message and story are admirable, it isn’t a play fit to show at Asbury.
“Asbury has biblical guidelines we try to live by,” Owens said. “There’s nothing unbiblical about saying ‘sex’ in a play. … It’s not a sin, but it’s just uncomfortable to have that conversation in front of an audience of mixed ages.”
While discussing the acceptability of the script, an Asbury public performance guideline was referenced. The guideline, dated February 2000, reads:
“Performance should represent Asbury as a Christ-centered institution and should always reflect the principles of the Asbury community (see the Handbook) to the audience consisting of family, friends, community members, and visitors. … Participants are urged to use great discretion in creating entertainment to be displayed in public performances. Specifically, performances should avoid sexual innuendo, vulgarity, immodesty, suggestive material, and anything which denigrates the principles upon which Asbury University is founded.”
“The hardest part for us was cutting a project that the students had been working on for weeks,” Owens said. “It was a painful decision; it wasn’t easy. But it wasn’t that anyone was out to get anyone.” Ultimately, he said, “Asbury should never put a student in a place where [he or she is] uncomfortable in a play.”
“It was really sad because I had so much fun doing it,” said junior Sarah Cole, another student involved. “I love the story a lot, and it’s something that’s really unique and spoke to me.”
Administrators behind the decision did want to give the cast and crew another show to work on this semester. “Some of them are seniors; it’s their last year, [and] we just have to budget the money for them to go ahead and be able do another [show],” Owens said. “We did not want to take that experience away from them.”
Working to schedule another show into the spring theater schedule, the “Play Ball” cast and crew will open “Uncle Vanya” during the first week of April. “[It] is an amazing show that I am thrilled to be a part of,” Pelletier said. “In sincerity, though, there is nothing that will be consolation enough for the amount of effort I have seen everyone pour into [‘Play Ball’].”
