I've been struggling with something--something not like me at all. Something that I never wanted to get involved in, and something that I'm worried will disappoint the people who are proud of me the most.
I'll come right out and say it. My play's dialogue has swearing. Expletives. Profanity. Curses. Vulgarity. Cussin'. Naughty language. Dirty words. Sailor talk. Potty mouth. (I apologize for any family heirlooms that have just been destroyed from too much pearl clutching)
From a professional standpoint, I've never been one to use swearing for comedy. I come from a background in improv and sketch comedy, and I have always considered swearing in comedy a big DON'T. More often than not, I've always seen it as nothing but a cheap laugh. It's too easy. I still believe in that standard....so why did I make my characters that brassy?
My play is my attempt to honestly (and humorously, of course) capture a very specific event that most everyone goes through at some point in their lives (but more on that some other time). The swearing is part of that honesty. And it's not me saying the words--it's my characters. When I try to reword the dialogue to make it more 'family friendly'...my characters aren't themselves anymore. It doesn't work. I can't change those characters because they are the heart of the play. From a snooty personal point of view, it's for my art.
But it still makes me nervous. I never ever want to offend anyone. Heck, I still get taken aback when an adult figure says "crap" in front of me. Yet here I am, advertising something that I wrote, that has (what some consider) offensive language.
But a freakin' Pulitzer Prize winner liked my play...so, it can't be all bad. I hope.
Follow your heart! :D
ReplyDeleteAlso: consider easing the audience into what to expect. If they know well enough that a character is inclined to swear, they'll be less flabergasted when they DO swear. If it makes the characters who they are, then do it! That's the character!