'dirty Sl*t' - not very appropriate for 8 yo school play?

[BerylStreep]

DS is 8. He has been going to his afterschool drama group, which is run in school, but by an outside drama group.

He arrived home a few weeks ago with his script for a play they are doing - Roald Dahl's Cinderella. I noticed in it there was a line where the prince say 'Who's this dirty slut?'

I spoke to DS's teacher and said I didn't think it was very appropriate to teach 8 yo boys terms that denigrate women, and she said she would speak to the drama teacher. Last week the drama teacher made a point of speaking to me after the session and she assured me that a lot of the play was improvisation and they wouldn't be using that line.

So I was a bit surprised today when I went to see the play today, to see that they had kept it in after all.

I don't want to appear to be petty, but I really think that having raised it with the school, having been assured the line wouldn't be used, I think I need to say something to the school about it. Would you say something, or just think, well the damage is done, no point raising it now? The principal was sitting next to me in the play, so will be aware of it already.

[BerylStreep]

The Head phoned me yesterday, and she told me that she was also really shocked when she saw the performance and had already made a note in her diary to speak to the drama teacher as she found it completely unacceptable. She said the number one rule for her as a teacher is that you always review materials before giving them to children.

She wasn't aware of the previous conversations there had been in relation to the script.

[crazycatdad]

Agreed, not very cool, I recall reading this very book when I was little and although I don't feel it harmed me in any way, I'd be pretty uncomfortable about it being read aloud in the presence of kids, let alone by kids. More than anything, I'd probably be complaining about the line staying in despite assurances to the contrary.

I also recall being in a (very outdated) panto in the mid-90s which contained the phrase 'old faggot', the traditional meaning of which was decades past its expiry date even then. As I recall, it remained in the script despite objections.

[TeiTetua]

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams has some useful suggestions there, which pretty much keep the mood of the original. Dahl was writing a couple of generations ago, and maybe the meaning of the word has shifted since then--more towards sex, and less towards looking neat and clean? Not that Dahl wasn't a sexist, of course, but perhaps not so bad in his own time.

I have a male friend who likes to invite people to his flat saying "You'll have to put up with my slatternly housekeeping". I wonder if he'd substitute "sluttish".

[bearleftmonkeyright]

Guardian article in favour of the original

I still believe the word has changed so much that the play needs editing.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

^The Prince cried "Who's that dirty girl?
Off with her head, ev'ry last curl."^

^The Prince cried "Who's that filthy maid?
Off with her head, don't get delayed!"^

^The Prince cried "Who's that grubby chick?
Off with her head, and make it quick!"^

Ok, none are great, but I presume a drama teacher with more time to think could come up with a better idea.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Well, I did that in a hurry, I'll have another think!

I did think it was strange the teacher said it wouldn't be used - you can't really go chopping bits out of poems not plays because it affects the scansion.

[thedancingbear]

Yup, another vote for not cool. For the sake of disclosure, I am male.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

I would not be happy with my Year 9 DD doing this and she is 13.

[PassiveAgressiveQueen]

The Prince cried, "What's that she said?
Off with her head! Off with her head!"

That doesn't work it needs to be an insult, i feel, sorry sidetrack

[BerylStreep]

I've spoken to the school secretary and am going to e-mail the head (even though she was sitting beside me at the play). The secretary was absolutely horrified, even more so when I explained that I had already had the conversation with the drama teacher.

[OneFlewOverTheDodosNest]

I'd be equally concerned about the fact that the teacher lied to you - saying that the play is mostly improv when there is a clear script sent home containing the offending line.

And really, 8 yo doing improvisation as a play? As if that would ever be a feasible idea anyway!

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

Another vote for not ok.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

I think the safest thing would have been to replace it with a different couplet, so something like:

The Prince cried, "What's that she said?
Off with her head! Off with her head!"

Usually I'm all for explaining that meanings change over time, but in this case I think I'd have just done a quiet bit of editing.

[KERALA1]

If you read his adult stuff from the 70s old Roald had quite a few issues with women - his short stories are very misogynistic I clocked this even as a teen when I read them.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

I think it's wrong as a school production. If you wanted to read it at home with a child it would be different as the context is Dahl didn't think much of the prince. The prince's language and general behaviour isn't something to be admired.

He's not a writer I read with my son and his adult stories are Tales of the Completely Predictable.

[scallopsrgreat]

Jeez! You think it's OK in context? WTAF?

It wouldn't be acceptable at any age range OP. Let alone 8.

It really shocks me that people are wanting to find excuses for it.

[PlaysWellWithOthers]

It's absolutely not ok in context! Ye gods!

I'd definitely be speaking to the person running the drama group again, it's not acceptable language now, it actually wasn't when Dahl wrote this either. Even when the word slut meant a woman who wasn't great at housework, it was derogatory toward women, now it's almost lost that connotation to save it, it's just rude.

[evelynj]

I would put a strong objection in writing.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Actually, in context it's fine. She isn't very impressed by the Prince.

^What's all the racket? 'Cindy cried.
'Mind your own bizz,' the Prince replied.
Poor Cindy's heart was torn to shreds.
My Prince! she thought. He chops off heads!
How could I marry anyone
Who does that sort of thing for fun?^

^The Prince cried, 'Who's this dirty slut?
'Off with her nut! Off with her nut!'
Just then, all in a blaze of light,
The Magic Fairy hove in sight,
Her Magic Wand went swoosh and swish!
'Cindy! 'she cried, 'come make a wish!
'Wish anything and have no doubt
'That I will make it come about!'
Cindy answered, 'Oh kind Fairy,
'This time I shall be more wary.
'No more Princes, no more money.
'I have had my taste of honey.
I'm wishing for a decent man.
'They're hard to find. D'you think you can?'
Within a minute, Cinderella
Was married to a lovely feller,
A simple jam maker by trade,
Who sold good home-made marmalade.
Their house was filled with smiles and laughter
And they were happy ever after^

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Out of all the plays which could have been chosen there were no other plays available? It's a very poor choice.

[SavoyCabbage]

It is in the original revolting rhyme. It is the more old fashioned usage, although I can't remember the exact wording. I read it to my own dc but I wouldn't read it out at school.

[BarbarianMum]

Not appropriate. They could have used 'slattern' if they wanted to keep the original meaning.