Mikado in Missoula, Montana, Sarah Palin beheading?
“Then the idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone, All centuries but this, and every country but his own;”
This is a phrase in the Gilbert and Sullivan play “Mikado” comic opera that the Missoula Community Theatre performed Jan 21-23, 26-30 in Missoula, Montana.
It is supposed to be political satire, the script calls for inserting current political events. The song itself sings about it: “The task of filling up the blanks I’d rather leave to you. But it really doesn’t matter whom you put upon the list, For they’d none of ‘em be missed — they’d none of ‘em be missed! (Chorus: (including Children)) You may put ‘em on the list — you may put ‘em on the list; And they’ll none of ‘em be missed — they’ll none of ‘em be missed!”
So, what current political trends did the good people of Missoula come up with?
Being an enlightened, liberal University town the up-to-date script called for the beheading of Sarah Palin. The public laughed and applauded. They had modified the lines:
“And the lady from the provinces, who dresses like a guy, And who “doesn’t think she dances, but would rather like to try”; And that singular anomaly, the lady novelist — I don’t think she’d be missed — I’m sure she’d not he missed! (Chorus: (Children)) He’s got her on the list — he’s got her on the list; And I don’t think she’ll be missed — I’m sure she’ll not be missed!”
A few people in the audience thought this was not in the best taste, one man, Rory Page, Clinton wrote in a letter to the editor: (excerpt) Now, I realize you play to a mostly liberal audience in Missoula and so, I am sure, felt comfortable in your calling for the beheading of Sarah Palin. I am painfully aware that most in the audience tittered with laughter and clapped because “no one would miss her” but there were some in your audience who took great offense to this “uncivil tone” about another human being:
This came to the attention of national media, and so the Executive Director Michael McGill decided to alter the lyrics for the remainder of the schedule. He also sent out a “letter of apology” where he states: “I am sorry that the satirical reference to Sarah Palin has offended some of our patrons.” He was in no way sorry for what the writer had done, only that some took offense to it. So he changed the lyrics, and it became:” And that crazy Sarah Palin needs a psychoanalyst. She never would be missed, No she never would be missed.”
That was reassuring. Sarah Palin had to remain in the lyrics in the most derogatory form they could muster, in this new “Civility” environment.
Of course there is no name associated with
“Then the idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone, All centuries but this, and every country but his own;”
Any ideas?
And the obligatory limerick:
Misoula, Montana, a small college town.
They are so superior, they have cap and gown.
“Behead Sarah Palin’
The Mikado railin’
The children chimed in, you must not let them down.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 