Margaret Sanger: Controversy or Art at El Portal Theatre?

This August a play on the life of Margaret Sanger will be premiering at the Monroe Forum at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. After first glance at press release online, one can't help but to wonder what the controversy is for? 

Sure, anyone who knows the legacy of Margaret Sanger recognizes that she is a highly debated figure from American history. Nonetheless, she is iconic in her own right. 

However, the question is not whether or not Sanger was a villain or a saint, but rather if an artistic production should really spark debate. Isn't the purpose of art to start conversation and move us emotionally? With that in mind, why is the community taking such strong stances, celebrating or demonizing a production like this Sanger play, when on a fundamental level it is bringing light to tough topics? 

Is the actress, Pamela Daly, really a hero or a villain? Or, is she just a performer doing her job? The fact remains that people will always debate art - whether it be nude painting, song lyrics, or film scripts. 

Still the beauty of art is that it creates a platform to connect people of different views on common ground, and that can be a great thing. This play is no different, so it should be interesting to see what impact the production has on the art community here in Hollywood.