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Content Advisory for SFA's Summer Repertory
Part of the mission of the School of Theatre is to provide meaningful cultural and entertainment experiences for the university and the people of East Texas. In doing so with our Mainstage productions, we most frequently turn to widely recognized writers of the past and present, and because they tell the stories of people in conflict—stories that are, in a word, dramatic—their words and works are usually challenging and controversial.
We never seek to offend, but we recognize that people of various sensibilities and sensitivities might choose to avoid some of the language, situations and behaviors that some of these plays use or depict.
For this reason, we offer the following as a source of information, and we resolve here to make a good-faith effort to let patrons, parents and teachers know about the material in our Mainstage productions we believe is most likely to be of concern.
Picnic
SYNOPSIS: The Labor Day picnic is merely a backdrop for the flurry of emotions and dreams that surface when a handsome vagabond suddenly enters the lives of three generations of women living side-by-side in a small Kansas town in 1950. William Inge’s Picnic won the 1953 Pulitzer Prize and the Critic’s Circle Award for Best Play
LANGUAGE: Objectionable language spoken in the production includes “bastard” (thrice) and “slut” (once). “Oh God” is used once in a plea for assistance.
SMOKING AND DRINKING: An older character in the play smokes a cigar, and a 16-year-old is seen smoking a cigarette. Prior to the picnic, several of the characters, including the 16-year-old, partake of “bootleg” whiskey.
NUDITY AND SEXUAL CONTENT: There is no nudity on stage except for the male lead removing his shirt. Sexual relations between some of the characters are implied.
VIOLENCE: During the course of the play, a short scuffle takes place between two of the characters.
RATING: If it were a movie, Picnic would receive a “Parental Guidance Suggested” rating.