Filed by Trevor at 10:36 pm under The Arts

“I want you to remember that a liberal atheist has forgiven you today. I don’t want you to ever forget that, as long as you live, do not forget what happened here. I don’t have God behind me, but I speak for myself, and I forgive you for myself, and for you. Never forget this.” — Mike Daisey

On April 19th, Mike Daisey was performing his monologue INVINCIBLE SUMMER at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts when, ten minutes in, a group of 87 high school students visiting from Norco High School suddenly left en masse, but not before the group chaperone approached the stage and wordlessly doused Mike’s outline in water — his only copy. His reason? Naughty language. And for some reason, decided to announce to theater employees that they represented a Christian group. Which is fitting, since Norco is where hard-line Klan members go to die. The most amazing thing about this, however, is that despite the fact that destruction of property and disturbing the peace are both crimes in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, no arrests have been made. So beware, thespians: smoking and visiting high-school choirs are absolute anathema to your production.

Read Mike’s account of the incident here, and be sure to read the follow-up posts concerning his confrontation with the man responsible for the damage, as well as the Boston Globe’s coverage of the aftermath. But before you do, watch the idiocy for yourself:

Do be sure to watch all of it, if only for his vivid description of what the American Repertory Theater normally produces. Also, pay attention to the comments from the audience; any artist would die to have a house as cool as this. Well, save for the frothing, self-righteous cowards that defaced his work. I’m amazed at how restrained and professionally he handled the situation.

Incidentally, I’d like to point out that my hometown is roughly 20 miles north of Norco (short for North Corona), and anyone who thinks Southern California is a hippie liberal paradise ought to check out this place. Want to know who that mysterious 30% is that still supports Bush? Yeah. Just drive down I-15, and once the smell of cattle hits your nose, look out your window. And be sure to bring your Stetson and a shotgun.