I contacted my friend Moises Kaufman, the writer, director of 33 Variations and expressed our concerns. He sent me this email to post here.
Hi Al
Thank you so much for letting me know about the postings in the forum.
I guess the thing I'd like to say is that we are in previews. We haven't yet opened. Jane's appearance on the VIEW was meant to get people curious about the show, not spell out everything in it.
When the show opens every single review will talk about ALS. Every single article. The work of publicity BEFORE a show opens is difficult and delicate. Kind of not trying to give away too much of what it's about.
In addition, you know that although our leading character in the play has ALS, that is only a subplot in it. It's NOT a play ABOUT ALS. And yet, we witness the lead character from months after her diagnosis to months before her death. I've conducted dozens of interviews and talked to many people with ALS in order to make sure our portrayal is correct. You and I have ha dozens of conversations (by phone and email) to make sure we got it right. We hope we'll do it correctly.
This is a horrible illness and we're glad to be bringing some visibility to it.
Moises Kaufman
Writer Director
33 VARIATIONS
I as he said have been talking to him on numerous occasions about ALS and believe he will portray a PAL in a good light and help bring awareness when the time is right.
AL.