My friend needs help?

[PupsAndKittens]

My friend (not the one from my previous posts) is a devout Christian, nothing wrong with that.

We are currently rehearsing for our college production of taming of the strew. She is playing Katherine. Due to a lack of male performers a girl has been casts as Petruchio. They are both required to kiss at the end of the show. My friend is really unhappy about this as it goes against her beliefs (Sexual interactions between 2 people of the same gender). We have all told her that technically the character she is kissing is Male, however she claims that although the person is pretending to be male they are a female and ultimately they are kissing a female. We have also told her that it is just a performance, however she has said how god judges her all the time.

AIBU to I think my friend needs to get a grip. And that there is a difference between playing a character and reality.

Also how many Christians are against homosexuality, just really want to know the truth?

[MrsFoxPlus4Again]

Nope I don’t think she’s being unreasonable at all or needs help her beliefs are her beliefs and if something makes her uncomfortable that’s just it really.

[ClapHandsAndSaveTheFairies]

If it helps, there are ways to stage kiss, which aren't actually kissing at all

[BumbleBeee69]

Also how many Christians are against homosexuality, just really want to know the truth?

so this was your real Question ?

well in reply to the original question... of course your friend is not being unreasonable.... she just needs to google 'Fake Kiss' for stage show thing right....

[AcrossthePond55]

If your friend is so convinced that kissing her fellow thespian would be a sin, then she needs to bow out of the part.

[RainingFrogsAndHats]

The play's the thing! The show must go on

[WhiskeyLullaby]

She doesn't want to kiss someone which is fair enough.
The correct reaction is "here's how you stage/fake kiss" not "oh just pretend it's someone else".

Answer to your other question... 421 bananas.

[PupsAndKittens]

Our teacher has already tried the fake approach, however she still not happy with it as it is implying that she is kissing and that is still a sin to her

[PupsAndKittens]

@BumbleBeee69 no it’s just an afterthought I had

[PupsAndKittens]

@AcrossthePond55 she can’t as it makes up a lot of her Diploma grade

[AcrossthePond55]

Well, she can, she just chooses not to because she needs the grades. That's fine and her choice. But what she's NOT entitled to do is change the play itself or the actress playing Petruchio.

Has she spoken to a clergy person for her denomination? I was raised in a hard-shell Southern Baptist church in the US and they wouldn't even blink at Katherine kissing (a female) Petruchio.

[Aquamarine1029]

Your friend is entitled to follow whatever beliefs she wants to and you don't have to agree. She doesn't need to "get a grip" to appease you or anyone else.

[calllaaalllaaammma]

If she’s unhappy with the fake approach then she’s being unreasonable.
She’s just creating a drama because she’s homophobic

[PixieDustt]

YABVU, that is what she believes in and it should be followed.
If a Muslim wouldn't try your bacon sandwich would you tell them to get a grip? It has the same principle.

[1forAll74]

She is being rather silly,no matter what,so can you not find anyone else for this stage production. I am sure some other lady would not mind this kissing scene.

I am sure that her God,would be quite pleased,if he saw her doing a wonderful stage play, and making all the audience happy.

Christmas cheer and all that,!

[WhiskeyLullaby]

Will the play have an audience ,so her family might be there?

Maybe she's just really uncomfortable with the idea of kissing a woman fake or real,and hiding behind her religion.

Or she's really indoctrinated and struggles with it, trying to balance what she needs to do for her grade with what she needs to do for her faith.

[Lifeisabeach09]

I don't feel she is being silly. Regardless of beliefs, a lot of people would feel awkward kissing members of the same sex, real or not. Can they not compromise on a peck or long hug?

[Thingsdogetbetter]

She does realise that when the play was written all the performers were male? And Christian!

As other posters have suggested a talk with her paster/vicar/priest might help. Or she needs to step down as lead - surely she can play a different role that does not conflict with her religious homophobia. There will be other ways to get the grades I presume. The supporting cast must be making the grades too?

PS horrible play about subjugation of a strong woman with male dominance through sex anyway!!

[jillandhersprite]

I'm not sure that your friend should be acting. Rather than can create all this drama she either accepts she is an actress and learns how to act and do a fake kiss or she should quietly step down from the role without fuss and stop auditioning for further roles...

[ContessaLovesTheSunshine]

Could you get a random male to step in as Petruchio (i.e. dressed the same, back/side to audience, exits stage soon after kiss or lurks behind others) for that one bit? Current female Petruchio can do all other scenes but that one?

I don't know the play at all so apologies if that simply won't work!

[eddiemairswife]

Is there an actual stage direction which says, "They kiss"? From my recollection that isn't the case. (too lazy to get The Complete Works of Shakespeare down from the shelf)

[Themazeoflife]

Can't she just kiss her on the cheek or forehead?

[GettingABitDesperateNow]

I think when is taking it too far. So I take it she wouldn't play a character that murdered, cheated etc etc either?

[MrsFezziwig]

Is there an actual stage direction which says, "They kiss"?

Probably not, but one of the actual lines in the play (which I presume is the bit OP is referring to) is “Why, there’s a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate”
or as Shakespeare didn’t write: “Come on, and Kiss Me Kate (unless your religious beliefs prevent it)”.

[MrsFezziwig]

Apologies for over-capitalisation, I seem to have turned it into the musical

[SmileyGiraffe]

Report her to the college for a hate crime. Job done.