Bulldozing Rachel off the New York stage

Not bulldozing, bullshitting. Here's a filmed discussion on Democracy Now on the cancellation of My Name is Rachel Corrie from the New York Theatre Workshop.

"My Name is Rachel Corrie" - a play based on the words of the American peace activist crushed to death three years ago by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza - is causing controversy after the New York City theater that was scheduled to run it postponed production. We host a discussion with Katharine Viner, the editor of the play in London and James Nicola and Lynn Moffat, the two top directors of the New York Theatre Workshop.

It's really bizarre listening to James Nicola, the theatre's artistic director who told the Guardian newspaper

"In our pre-production planning and our talking around and listening in our communities in New York, what we heard was that after Ariel Sharon's illness and the election of Hamas, we had a very edgy situation." Nicola went on to say, "We found that our plan to present a work of art would be seen as us taking a stand in a political conflict, that we didn't want to take."

Now listen to Tony Nicola and Lynn Moffat "explain" their decision. Woops, I mean, explain "their" decision.

There is a potentially happy ending here. According to Katherine Viner, the Royal Court Theatre has been inundated with requests from American (including New York) theatres wanting to stage the play.