Ask a Manager: Can I be in a play where my character tries to assault my employee?

[minoanmiss]

I was recently promoted to my first management position. Shortly after I started my new position, I was cast as the lead in a community theater production. One of the songs I’ll be doing is a duet with another character. While all clothes stay on, this duet is highly sensual and involves coercion and borderline rape. I also have another scene where I have to passionately kiss this character.


We had our first cast meeting this weekend, and to my shock, one of my direct reports is playing this other character. I feel completely out of my depth here about how to handle this. When I got promoted, I didn’t expect that I’d be in a situation where I’d have to pretend to assault one of my direct reports. Is it okay for both of us to stay in this production? Or would that be a major no-no? Am I professionally obligated to bow out of the show?

Yeah, you should bow out. I can’t see any good coming from a situation where you’re passionately (or dispassionately) kissing an employee or pretending to assault her.