‘Foreskin’ a disgrace, Miss Bartlett

Press, 13 July 1981, Page 6

‘Foreskin’ a disgrace, Miss Bartlett

PA Wellington Miss Patricia Bartlett has described , “Foreskin’s Lament,” a play by an Auckland lawyer, Greg McGee, as “a disgrace.” Miss Bartlett, the national secretary for the Society for Promotion of Community Standards, referred to the play’s “gratuitous male nudity, simulated sodomy and non-stop verbal barrage of obscenities and profanities.” It was a disgrace that it had been assisted by the Wellington City Council and the design department of TVNZ, she said, and called on these, bodies to explain their involvement with the production. The play is being presented by wellingtpn’BCirca Theatre at the State Opera House after a successful run at Circa and has been shown in other parts of New Zealand. • I

“It is intriguing to note that the only truly evil character portrayed is a policeman in normal life, which is in line with the disturbing

modern trend, of which this play is an unfortunate example, of denigrating those assQciated with authority/’ Miss Bartlett said, f, .

’ ‘ “Not only was thedepraved gutter language offensive and repetitious but five of the male actors removed their underpants and walked around exposing themselves to the audience,” said Miss Bartlett.

William Shakespeare and other great dramatists did not have to resort, to male nudity and obscene language to portray their message, she said.

. ?Women are not invited by rugby players after a match to enter their changing rooms to watch their naked ■ablutions — it’ appears Circa considers women in the audience should see and hear what might go on there under the excuse of ‘reality’,” Miss Bartlett said. The Governor-General, Sir David Beattie, and Lady Beattie will attend a performance of “Foreskin’s Lament” this evening.