(This really has nothing to do with Kilts. I’m posting it her in Off-Topic as I respect the opinions of many on this board.)

I came across a bit of a moral issue the other day. Surprisingly, it didn’t stem from my law-enforcement career, as one might expect. It came from my “hobby job” of theater.
Here’s the situation: The show I’m directing has been hired to give two performances at a local festival. As the show is improvised, we only need a few rehearsals to refresh ourselves with the format. The show works best with 6 or 7 performers, but requires a minimum of 5.
When we were hired, I sent notices out to the potential cast members. I received email assurances from seven people that they were available for all rehearsals and performances, and eager to do the show. I turned away several people who wanted to perform, but couldn’t make one or more of the rehearsals. One of the people I turned away (let’s call her “Kate”) had actually done the show before.

Hours before the first rehearsal, I had three cast members call to say they couldn’t make it. Each had “prior commitments” that they had forgotten about until that day.

Over the next week, additional cast members canceled on more of the remaining rehearsals, and in some cases – one of the performances.

Suddenly I was in a situation where I no longer had 5 performers for the first show, and only 5 for the second show.

My inclination was to cancel our appearance. My reasoning was that I felt canceling our appearance would do less damage to our groups’ reputation than showing up with too few performers and giving a poor performance.

My cast objected, and I was immediately implored to ask “Kate” to perform. I told the group it was inappropriate, as she hadn’t been to ANY rehearsal. How could I justify casting her without any rehearsals, when I had turned away others who couldn’t make rehearsals?

The general consensus was that if anyone asked, I should tell them that she had been at a rehearsal, and know one would need to know the truth.

I was surprised at how shocked I was at the suggestion. Yes, I would love to have Kate back in the cast. But what good are a person’s morals and principals if you are willing to break them because you don’t like the outcome?
I found the more I tried to explain this, the more the group thought I was crazy.

Am I?

The question I’m posting isn’t whether or not to let Kate do the show*; it’s about how readily people are willing to lie to friends and co-workers about such things.

Do I stand too firm on my moral high ground? Beyond what my parents taught me about honor and morals, it was drilled into me from day one at the academy that an officer’s integrity is everything. If you lose your integrity, you lose your value as an officer.

Are there so many people willing to compromise (or “re-interpret,” as one cast member said) their morals and integrity because standing by them would be difficult?

*(In the end, I decided to cast Kate so we could keep our commitment to the festival. If someone asks me about why I cast Kate instead of them, I’ll explain the situation as best I can. But I will not “pretend” she was at rehearsals.)