Celeste Defends Madeline’s Musical | Big Little Lies | HBO

I'm not looking to like chill artistic expression. I hear it's a great play. That said, puppets fuck. We can't have puppets fucking in Monterey. May I be heard? There is one scene, and one scene only, where two of the puppets simulate sex. There's no nudity. Yeah? Aching puppets don't bother me. Fucking puppets, on the other hand, it's vulgar. Even if it were, you'd still have to prove that it has no legal, artistical, literary value. I'm not talking about legals. We're going to have to talk about the... To shut down a show simply because it makes you uncomfortable two weeks before it's about to open. I don't think that that... Okay, look, look. I'm new to the whole controversy, okay? It's just been brought to my attention mostly by concerned parents, so I'm bringing a fresh eye to this thing, you know? And you can tell me I'm full of shit? It wouldn't be the first. But from my perspective, the whole point of the theater is to bring community together. You know, to entertain. To have an affirming effect on society. This thing here? It's already divisive. True. And I'm certainly not trying to connect the two, but there are zoning laws that prohibit sex shops and strip clubs. Come on, this is hardly that. Yes, but... This play deals with love and racism and same-sex marriage, which are all redeeming themes. Conversations this community should be having. I mean, and if you want to continue to have this... Fuck, bitch, fuck. Adorable. May I speak for a moment? Not as a member of the Monterey Planning Board, but really as a mom. I think we can agree that the world has gone to hell, right? I mean, we're living in a time where our little ones have lockdown drills at school because of gun violence. They don't even feel safe in their own classroom. So what if we brought back a little good old-fashioned nostalgia? You know, a little sound of music? I mean, we're Monterey, right? So what do we want to say? And maybe the question isn't, what is this play? But who are we? I take your point. It's a good one. We all have small children, and this is the village that we've chosen to raise them in. And I would say, among other things, I hope we're open-minded. I mean, I think what draws a lot of people to Monterey is its progressiveness. But opinions aside, legally, you've already lost. The California Constitution goes way further than the federal one to protect the First Amendment. But to answer your question, Renata, who are we? I don't think we want to become synonymous with suppression and prior restraint. Are we going to face accusations of being anti-American and anti-free speech? I mean, that's not the politics that you've been practicing, Mayor Bartley. So I would say there are bigger black eyes than putting on a controversial musical, especially ones that have won Tonys.