2007-06-16 07:39:21 · 5 answers · asked by liz 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
no - the writer obviously thought the character should be there or they wouldn't have written it!
2007-06-16 07:42:31 · answer #1 · answered by bargoed2004 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, I read some answers and I don't think any of these people have ever directed a play. This happens ALL OF THE TIME. Characters are eliminated in many plays. I have seen Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at least 30 times and in only two of those shows were all of the characters used. I would be more careful if the auther is still alive. David Mamet will sic his legal team on you if he doesn't like your changes or concepts as he did with an all female version of Glengary/Glenross. If you are staying true to the themes and message of the play, trimming minor roles should be fine.
2007-06-16 17:12:03 · answer #2 · answered by Milwaukeefella 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No!
When you agreed to put on the play (and when you bought the scripts) the terms were clear that you'd produce the play as written. You can't change the script, the characters, or the production in any material way. (Writing out a character is material.)
You CAN ask for permission from the copyright owner to make a change. (It may take six weeks or more to get the permission--and it may be denied.) But you don't have the right to change a copyrighted work (such as a script) without the copyright holder's specific permission.
2007-06-16 14:50:52 · answer #3 · answered by Lorenzo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's more a question of ethics than legality, really. It has a lot to do with the size of theatre, and how much they expect to make on the production.
If you read the legalese at the beginning of a printed script, you'll see that ANY and ALL adjustments to the text are forbidden. Obviously, the writers and their agents and publishers need to protect themselves, but...in the real world, texts are edited all the time.
If you're talking about a school production, or a community theatre-type of production, you probably won't have a problem. If you're in the professional environment, you need to take care.
2007-06-16 14:49:34 · answer #4 · answered by shkspr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you want to be sued for copyright infringement.
Don't you realize one can NEVER tamper with anything that is NOT WRITTEN BY YOU, especially work that is copyrighted, thus the reason, we have strong COPYRIGHT LAWS, in the USA.
I remember a case when someone tampered with removing a character and was sued for millions of dollars.
Authors write plays the way they want them performed.
2007-06-19 22:39:05 · answer #5 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋