At the time, Massachusetts' infamous Blue Laws still included regulations requiring those producing public performances on a Sunday to certify that the play was "in keeping with the character of the Lord's Day and not inconsistent with its due observance." The professors on the committee did not believe the play met this criteron and refused to sign the proper form. The Sunday performance had to be moved to Monday.
Steinman (top left) went on to write nearly all of Meatloaf's songs in the late '70s and early '80s, including hits such as "I Would Do Anything for Love" and "Paradise by the Dashboard Light." He also wrote songs for other artists; several hits, such as "Total Eclipse of the Heart," borrowed melodies that he originally wrote for "The Dream Engine."
But in the spring of 1969 this success was still far ahead of him, and he was angry with the committee. "[This is] a timid, overly cautious, almost cowardly action. A college, and especially a group such as the Independent Study Committee, which is designed to advance a student's progressive education, should be strong enough and have the guts and sense of principle to stand behind a student's work," Steinman said. "I would challenge the Independent Study Committee members, all of whom claim to have read the script but not one of whom have seen one actual rehearsal, to state publicly exactly what in the play is not appropriate to the Lord's Day."
Steinman also saw the irony in the situation. "It's grotesquely comic that the play is about revolution, social upheaval and disruption, and it's being thwarted because of fear of left-over relics from the Puritan age who are wandering forlornly through the Pelham Hills looking for fornicators."
-David Scherr