To be offended by this word in a children's play?

[amammabear]

My kids are currently taking part in Elf the musical, and one of the lines has Buddy the Elf singing "making toys is so fantastic that I shake until I'm spastic!".

Now I'm really struggling with this, I have a condition that causes muscles spasms myself (developed as an adult) but I grew up under the impression that "spastic" isn't considered appropriate any more. Before I raise it with the theatre group, I wanted to know what others think.

My children aren't singing it, only Buddy, but my parents agree with me that it's not appropriate and my Mum thought that if even one person in the audience is offended, it could be harmful to the groups reputation. So, AIBU?

Plastic rhymes with fantastic too!!

OP is this a school play?

No, as I said, it's not a school play but a theatre group.

so does gymnastic

making toys is so fantastic that my dancing's got gymnastic

they could put in moves to that, it makes more sense.

Spastic is awful, but we had a guest here US schooled and she was casually using 'spaz' all the time and most affronted when we said it was not acceptable.

YANBU, very offensive and no place for it in this day and age.

Wouldn't see why they would use it, yes it comes from the word spasmodic, but still, no place for it.

Well no YANBU, but spastic is a genuine scientific term when used as an adjective. When used as a noun, however, yes offensive in this country certainly. Is the script American? I guess if so, no offence meant, but yes, you should raise the issue. Surprised someone else didn't think of it but is this usage as a noun generational? I don't think, if I said this to my children, they would bat an eyelid cos it's just not in use now, so anyone youngish in charge of this script could probably be forgiven for not knowing its recent ,unacceptable, connotation.

Not only is it offensive it doesn't make sense!
"Making toys is so fantastic, we're adding to the Christmas magic" or
"Making toys is so fantastic; makes me feel so bombastic!" Or
Making toys is so fantastic, makes me bouncy like elastic" or any other variants. Spastic is not needed and totally unacceptable.

Weinbergers who licence Elf in the UK will have had the scripts direct from the US where the word isn't deemed to be offensive. I'd imagine it was an oversight & the director hasnt realised yet.

I know the term is used in Billy Elliot but that's in the context ofvthe type of language that would have been used at the time it was set.

YANBU. As the mother of a disabled child I would be so delighted if you could get this changed - it's so deeply and personally offensive to people like me and my family. And the more it's used in whatever context, the more it is likely to be used.

Thank you.

"makes me bouncy like elastic" as a pp suggested is really good imo; they may be more receptive to the idea of a change if you've got a decent alternative to suggest?

ah, it was sagethyme's suggestion :)

The issue with this being a theatre group as opposed to a school production is the director may very much want to go along with the original script. The same word is said in Hairspray and I've never seen it without. Being American the word has different connotations and the director, rightly or wrongly may not want to change it (as this is the broadway musical version I imagine, being a song, they would want to keep it in to be true to the lyrics)

I would raise it with him as personally I do think this is an offensive term, however I think you should also be prepared to be told it won't be changes.

For what it's worth I don't think you are BU - keep us posted!

*changed not changes!

YANBU - point out the cultural differences between disablist language in the US and the UK - they still think many words are fine to use over there that aren't acceptable in general use in the UK. Australia are still way behind the times with this as well, I often hear the "r" word shouted around. :(

Definitely not acceptable. I have to assume that the producers don't actually realise how offensive it is.

100% agree that you should let them know. Although thinking of an alternative line is really not your problem.

It's true that "spastic" and "spaz" do not resonate the same way in the US as they do in the UK; it is more like using the word "idiot." There are a lot of reasons for this, one of which is that "spastic" was never generally used in the US for cerebral palsy as it was in the UK. With more globalized discussion, however, it is becoming less acceptable in the US as well.

It definitely needs to be changed in this play, and I would insist on this if I encountered it in the States, too.

My first thought was that this must be a US musical.

My son has spastic CP, btw and I would definitely be having a word with whoever is putting on the play to register your feelings, because I would imagine that most people would feel the same way.

"The issue with this being a theatre group as opposed to a school production is the director may very much want to go along with the original script."

I would complain tlike hell and if the theatre director refuses to change the line. If that fails you can complain the the theatre the company is hiring. Possibly the local council might have some clout if the company needs performer licenses for the children.

Spastic is not acceptable as a term. Spasms in muscles is really painful. A muscle is spastic it makes no sense in that context.

It's not ok.

Hopefully the director/ theatre group leader will has the same opinion when it's drawn to their attention.

Script authenticity cannot be prioritised above offensiveness.

Dontpanicpike- thanks for your helpful response... If you bothered to look at the link I put up, you'd see proud that it's real.

Did you possibly mishear it?

Waitrose, it's in the script.

Why don't people read the thread? It's pretty simple:

It's acceptable in a US context where the script comes from.

It's unacceptable in a UK context and could (and should) be easily changed.