All the world’s a stage

Some parents of students at Green Valley High School in Henderson are seeking a preliminary injunction in District Court that would cancel scheduled performances of the plays "Rent" and "The Laramie Project" -- two plays with homosexual characters and the theme of tolerance.

They argue that since they object to their children participating in plays with adult content, their own kids are essentially excluded from participation in the school's theater program.

The school's theater season's theme is "Controversy, Compassion, Courage."

"The Laramie Project" deals with the brutal slaying of a gay college student in Wyoming; "Rent" is about starving artists coping with drug addiction and AIDS.

Cory Hilton, lawyer for the parents objecting to the plays, acknowledged he has not seen the scripts for either school production, but said he is more concerned about process than content.

Mr. Hilton expressed concern that school officials are not following Clark County School District procedures for presenting controversial subject matter to students -- that school district regulations do not allow "R" rated material to be presented to students at all, while parents have a right to weigh in with their opinion if the content is PG-rated, he contends.

Michael Rodriguez, a district spokesman, responds that Mr. Hilton is confusing the district's policy of showing movies in school with the subject of school plays. Movies, unlike theater performances, can be compulsory viewing as part of the curriculum. Participation in the plays is voluntary and requires parental permission.

"The Laramie Project" was presented on Oct. 12 on the 11th anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard, the subject of the play. It's scheduled to be presented again Nov. 12-14. "Rent" is scheduled for performances in late January and early February.

School officials and students note both scripts have been toned down for younger audiences.

"This is what people don't get; it's the high school edition," said Joshua Lovell, 16, who plays the principal character, Mark Cohen, in "Rent." There is no illicit drug use and very limited "public displays of affection," Mr. Lovell said. "Some hugging, but no kissing."

The issue is important, demonstrating that -- even in their somewhat watered-down, "high school" versions -- such dramas can still evoke emotion and stir controversy.

That's precisely what drama (as opposed to silly skits involving mustachioed villains shouting "But you must pay the rent!") is supposed to do.

The parents in question are not wrong -- far from it -- to be concerned about their children being exposed to such themes at what they may feel to be too early an age, either as participants or as viewers. In fact, their concern is far more laudable than if they had merely assumed "The school must know what it's doing," without checking for themselves.

But the parents are wrong in their attempt to block the plays from being performed by those who have parental permission to do so, and viewed by students or members of the community on a completely voluntary basis, without pressure or penalty to those who remain perfectly free to simply stay away.

Yes, it would be nice if each school's theater season included at least one light comedy for those of different tastes. But is that a matter to be imposed by the courts, or anyone else outside the school itself?

Participation in the school's theatrical productions is presumably not required to graduate in good standing. Community theaters exist where frustrated young thespians can find alternative roles.

If no one is currently casting such inoffensive fare as "Goodbye My Fancy" or "Arsenic and Old Lace," it may be because times change; new themes are required to stretch a young performer's abilities, to capture an audience's interest and spark some debate and discussion.

Shall judges or legislators now pore over high-school scripts, approving in advance a few "acceptably" bland offerings after debating how many "gosh darns" shall be permitted in each act? When the kids thus being "protected" can view stuff ten times as strong at home any night on television? Why would anyone bother, at that point?

Congratulations to the school's (and the district's) administration for not caving at the first sign of controversy -- which would be the worst lesson to teach, of all. Let the plays go on.