Getting Triggered by Charles Dickens! By Richard Miller (Londonistan)
In a groundbreaking move to safeguard the delicate sensibilities of modern audiences, a British theatre company has issued a trigger warning for their production of the classic musical Oliver! This bold step ensures that viewers are forewarned about the distressing themes of child abuse, domestic violence, and racial stereotypes lurking within this 1960s adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1838 novel.
The theatre's management, ever vigilant against potential emotional disturbances, has thoughtfully advised that the show contains "themes of child abuse, domestic violence, and racial stereotypes." They've also cautioned that "customers may find some scenes and language upsetting." This pre-emptive measure allows patrons to brace themselves for the shocking revelation that Victorian-era London wasn't exactly a utopia of equality and kindness.
One can only imagine the horror of attending a musical set in the 19th century, only to discover that it doesn't align with 21st-century moral standards. The depiction of characters like Fagin, whose portrayal has long been criticised for perpetuating negative stereotypes, might indeed cause today's audiences to clutch their pearls in dismay.
This initiative raises important questions about the future of classic literature and theatre. Should we, perhaps, retrofit all historical works with modern disclaimers? Imagine opening a copy of Moby-Dick to find a note warning about potential distress caused by depictions of whaling. Or attending a performance of Romeo and Juliet with advisories about underage romance and tragic endings.
In an era where the past is continually re-evaluated through the lens of contemporary values, it's reassuring to know that theatres are taking the lead in shielding us from the uncomfortable realities of history. After all, who needs the messy complexities of the past intruding upon the sanitised woke narratives of the present?
"Charles Dickens' very name has become synonymous with the poverty and harsh conditions he described evocatively in his novels about life in Victorian Britain.
So theatregoers are unlikely to be surprised by the content of musical Oliver!, based on Oliver Twist, the story of a boy who escapes an orphanage only to end up in the clutches of ruthless London criminals.
That has not stopped London's Gielgud Theatre from slapping a trigger warning on the latest production of Lionel Bart's renowned adaptation of Dickens' story.
The musical is famous for scenes including when Oliver is physically punished in the orphanage for seeking a second helping of food, asking "Please Sir, I want some more", along with iconic songs such as 'Food Glorious Food', 'Consider Yourself', and 'You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two'.
The website for the current West End production alerts audiences to depictions of crime, "discriminatory" language, violence and hunger.
Under a section headlined "content advisory", it states: "True to Dickens's novel, the script contains some mild and discriminatory language reflective of the period; depictions of violence towards men, women and children including gunshots; and themes of poverty, hunger and crime in Victorian society."
The show is billed as being "unsuitable" for under-sevens – and there is also an alert for "gunfire and smoke".
The current production, in which four different boys take it in turn to perform the leading role, opened to five-star reviews in January.
It is not the first time the tale has attracted warnings for 'snowflake' audiences.
Last November, ITV warned viewers that Sir David Lean's celebrated 1948 film adaption of Oliver Twist contained "language from a bygone era.".
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