”Shocking, right? Well, the audience certainly thought so—the whole place gasped when that line was delivered. I was amazed to find that they had come to see this play not knowing what it was about."
I was struck by this when I saw the play earlier this year. Not only did the audience gasp, but when the same moment was replayed as film footage a few minutes later, some audience members gasped again, as though hearing it for the first time. This made me doubt the sincerity of the first gasp. Were they genuinely shocked? Hard to tell.
I saw the play in December and was actually struck that the line had a minimal effect on the audience. Perhaps it is generational, but it seemed to me calling someone a ‘queer’ just didn't have the impact that other homophobic slurs would have done.
It's possible. But as I said above, I just don't think the word in that sense comes across as more archaic than offensive, especially since it has been partially reclaimed in other contexts.
”Shocking, right? Well, the audience certainly thought so—the whole place gasped when that line was delivered. I was amazed to find that they had come to see this play not knowing what it was about."
I was struck by this when I saw the play earlier this year. Not only did the audience gasp, but when the same moment was replayed as film footage a few minutes later, some audience members gasped again, as though hearing it for the first time. This made me doubt the sincerity of the first gasp. Were they genuinely shocked? Hard to tell.
I'd say they were genuinely shocked. It takes a lot to get a real gasp in the theatre I think...
I saw the play in December and was actually struck that the line had a minimal effect on the audience. Perhaps it is generational, but it seemed to me calling someone a ‘queer’ just didn't have the impact that other homophobic slurs would have done.
Maybe they knew it was coming?
It's possible. But as I said above, I just don't think the word in that sense comes across as more archaic than offensive, especially since it has been partially reclaimed in other contexts.