By Maria Chacin
The Edgewood College Theatre Department’s showings of ‘columbinus’ did not edit out the use of the n-word, a racial slur, in the script.
Jeanne Leep, head of the acting and directing program and theatre producer at Edgewood College, said that the department was not legally allowed to change the words of the play because the script is a transcript of what actually happened during the Columbine shooting.
More than a dramatization, Leep said ‘columbinus’ is a docu-drama style production with actual transcripts, interviews and other archived materials intended “to create a complex theatrical discussion for audiences.”
In the production notes, ‘columbinus’ writers Stephen Karam and PJ Papparelli clearly stated that there shouldn’t be any cutting, censoring or editing, because families of the victims had given permission to share their stories and “they need to exist as they were discovered, otherwise it is not truthful,” Leep said.
“We tried to make it clear to everybody this was a difficult play, whether that is the n-word or the violence,” she said, “and the administration requested that we clearly post explicit warnings and create a statement that was both read and written before each performance, and we were happy to work with them to do that.”
There was a pre-recorded message played before the start of the show warning the audience about those topics and urged people to take care of themselves throughout the performance. This audio mimics the written disclaimer for the show, which Executive Director of Diversity Tony Garcia provided for On The Edge.
“This production provides us with a platform in our collective search for truth,” Leep said in the disclaimer. “The search for truth can be challenging to the extreme; some of the material
covered in this production is difficult to both see and hear.
“In addition to distressing images, depictions of self-harm, gun violence, and other disturbing themes, there are hateful racial and homophobic slurs and epithets.”
Leep said that those involved with the production do not want the show’s script to be an excuse for saying the slur or to incite others to use it.
Discussions
Whenever a show contains difficult material, the theatre department hosts a variety of ways to
unpack that content, including academic panels and talkbacks after the show. At these events, audience members and the Edgewood community can share their feelings, thoughts or questions regarding the play.
For ‘columbinus,’ there was a panel – the Interdisciplinary Perspectives of School Violence – that included professionals from other departments to inform people before the show about the play’s themes and context.
Leep told students, faculty and staff to not see the production if they felt offended by the use of the n-word or by other difficult topics, such as violence and self-harm.
Leep said that attendees did not express any complaints. Most people thought the play was very heartfelt, she noted, and were grateful for the intelligent handling of sensitive material, according to what was said at the talkbacks.
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