Broadway Is Still Misbehaving, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       When Daniel Radcliffe did "Equus" on Broadway, back in 2008, every gay man in the audience knew on cue when to take out the binoculars, so they could witness Radcliffe in the nude scene.  Having seen the play in 1975, and nudity on the stage over the years, I passed on this.  I heard about this through others and thought it somewhat pedophilic to be ogling one who played a former child hero, Harry Potter.  Besides, I found the nature of the play distasteful, so I knew enough not to see it again.

                                          Now, back in 2003, I saw the original production of Richard Greenberg's "Take Me Out," which won Denis O' Hare a TONY Award, and earned one for Daniel Sunjata, as Darren Lemming, the baseball player who comes out.

                                              History is repeating itself with the revival of "Take Me Out."  Tony nods have been handed out to Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Jesse Williams, now playing the same roles once performed by O'Hare and Sunjata.

                                               But something in the air has changed.  I recall no binoculars during the nude shower scene of Greenberg's play, though they must have been there.  I do recall applause to the actors having the vulnerability to perform downstage center and simply take a shower on stage--before thousands of people, every night.  Were cell phones around in 2003?  Actually, camera phones have been in existence since 1999.  So, why no fuss then, but now?

                                                   First, I don't believe as many of these phones were owned, back in 2003--which is 19 years ago, by the way!!!!!!!!!!!  But second, Covid wasn't around, and during these years our culture has sadly changed to where people have no respect for one another.  Look at the "COMPANY" incident with Patti LuPone, where a woman had the nerve to say, "I pay your salary!"  And look at poor Jesse Williams being photographed nude by some twisted thing, who went and posted it virally.  That person should be tracked down and arrested.  I mean, technically, isn't this felony sexual assault?

                                                      Actors have always had a hard time, starting with hecklers.  Now, when performing nude, they have to worry having their personhood violated? Meanwhile, it is OK to film a guy nude and post it, but what if it had been women?  And nutsos are more concerned about turning over Roe V. Wade than anything else??????????????????????

                                                           I applaud Jesee and whomever else has to perform this scene each night.  If the theater community cannot trust its own--and that includes the audience--then how can it continue???????????????

                                                           And, besides, Patti cannot be every place, at once!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!