15th January, 2011
I’ve been sent a home-video copy of my brother Anthony’s play, Whale Music, from 1982.
I know it by heart, and I sing the songs which go with it almost daily. Nevertheless it’s wonderful to have a copy.
One thing I’d forgotten was how radical it appeared at the time. For those who don’t know it, it’s a play about a young woman who gets pregnant while at university, and hides herself away in a seaside town to have the baby (which she will eventually give up for adoption).
If unmarried university-years pregnancy were not shocking enough in 1982, the play also offends by having no men it. It’s all women, and some of those are lesbians. Another character is a self-confessed maneater, who confesses in a memorable speech to destroying men in bed.
But nowadays this is not noteworthy content, and there’s probably more in-yer-face frankness about sexuality in your average episode of Glee.
So I was quite shocked to hear the viewer warning at the front of this broadcast:
“Viewers should know that the play deals with certain women’s attitides towards men in a frank and explicit manner.“
I found it hilarious. Have a listen below. It’s not just the words of warning; listen to the disapproving tone! The accent! It’s more 1950s than 1980s.
The recent furore about Miriam O’Reilly and sexism/ageism in the BBC reminds us there’s still a distance to travel. But we’ve come a long way, thank heaven, since 1982.
In this track there’s a trailer, then the viewer warning, then the opening music.