The UK Telegraph says that “Scores of actresses turn down roles in play critical of J. K. Rowling’s gender views.”
Since we’re a family-oriented publication, I can’t divulge the name of the play, which “has already caused outrage over its explicit working title.” The title calls Rowling a word that rhymes with “bunt.”
Rowling “has become a figure of hate online among some activists, and received death threats after publicly sharing concerns about the encroachment of transgender campaigning on women’s rights.”
The play’s purpose is apparently to smear Ms. Rowling, whose beloved Harry Potter novels have so far sold zillions. One hopes that an aversion to cooperating with the smear is the main reason why scores of actresses, many of whom probably have trouble getting steady work in a very competitive industry, won’t go anywhere near the play.
Unfortunately, by June 13, the date of the Telegraph story, actors had been found for the male leads.
One of the producers, Barry Church-Woods, admits that the play has “met some kind of resistance every step of the way.” He’s been “surprised by how difficult it has been for us to recruit the female cast in particular,” even though this is a “well-paid gig … and the script is terrific.”
What if the producers do find enough conscienceless thespians to play all the parts, the play gets produced, and it enjoys a duly brief run and sparse attendance?
J. K. Rowling will still survive. Somehow.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
Illustration created with PicFinder and Firefly
—
See all recent commentary
(simplified and organized)
1 reply on “Can’t Cancel J. K. Rowling”
From a desire for publicity, the producers of the play report the number of actresses declining rôles. The rôles will be filled (perhaps by femmes manqués), and a larger audience of haters and of the morbidly curious will be attracted by the resulting attention given to this production.