First Time I Saw Jerry

Jerry Springer: The Opera is currently playing at the Studio Theatre here in DC. I was somewhat tempted to see it, in part because I actually have seen it before--I saw it in London back in November of 2004. It was very controversial over there; there were a lot of protests about its upcoming broadcast on the BBC.

I remember enjoying it a lot, though definitely feeling a bit odd as an American watching this in an audience of mostly British people. I was distinctly more uncomfortable than amused in one part of the show that featured a burning cross; most of the audience seemed to find it funny. In context. And given that the second act of the play is set in hell, a burning cross in context certainly may be amusing. I definitely wondered if the difference in my reaction is because there's so much more weight to that image to an American than there is to a Brit; not that they didn't know what it signified, but it's decidedly different. I imagine that, in context, I can find a swastika pretty amusing (e.g., The Producers), where a German may see the humor, but still not be able to laugh at it as much.

When I saw the show was going to be here, I actually pulled out my journal from the trip I saw it. I noted that I found references to Viagra more amusing than apparently the majority of the audience did. I guess the Brits just couldn't appreciate the sheer overwhelming number of commercials to help fight ED.

Of course, in addition to the burning cross thing, what I remember the most from that night is getting lost both going to and from the theatre. Good job, Barb!