My pals
Denise and
Len sent along a link to this story over a week ago, but I've been on the run and haven't had a chance to bring it up here - until now.
The
New York Times ran a story Feb. 20 about the musical called
Rent: School Edition, and the controversy that's grown around it.
It's an edited version of the popular musical that's been adapted for schools to produce. "School Editions" are a relatively recent invention, and allow major Broadway productions that aren't available for community theatre groups to be staged by school groups and children's theatres.
The shows are edited (slightly) and the music is altered for younger voices. Among the shows that have been adapted this way are
Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd, Avenue Q and
Rent.
I have to admit that I'm still not sure how I feel about schools staging adult shows like
Rent, Sweeney Todd or
Avenue Q. Even
Les Miz has some adult content (and this one I've very familiar with - I directed a local production with First Stage Theatre). I'm generally opposed to censorship, but I also think there's material in these productions that may not be appropriate for young people.
This is the first year that
Rent has been available in a somewhat toned-down version for schools. But even this version tackles some adult subjects, including drug use, theft, H.I.V. and homosexuality - not exactly the usual fare for school shows.
My feeling is that (senior) high school kids are mature enough to tackle the story, although I'm not sure it's fair to subject any young performer to the pressure of playing some of the adult roles involved. Any younger than that, and I don't think it would be appropriate.
But it's a decision each school has to make. The music in the show is great, and
Rent has certainly become a big favorite among theatre fans, but it would be a tough call.
As the story indicates, a school in Bridgeport, W.Va., tried to stage it, but the show was shut down by the school administration - so the production was moved to a local college campus, although the cast was still made up of local high school students.
Here's an excerpt from
the story:
Theater directors and students at more than 40 high schools across the country have selected a new show for their big springtime musical this year: Rent: School Edition, a modified version of the hit Broadway musical that, while toned down a bit, remains provocative by traditional drama club standards.
Too provocative, in the view of some high school officials and parents. At least three of the planned high school productions, in California, Texas and West Virginia, have been canceled...
... “Our high school shows are so important to our community — we have alumni who come back, we bus in children for them — and I didn’t see Rent working here,” said Susan Collins, the superintendent of the Harrison County schools in West Virginia, who canceled a production at Bridgeport High School there this winter. “But look, I know we can’t stick our heads in the sand, I know drugs are out there, I know children are having babies at 12, I know teens are having sex and always must have safe sex. But I don’t know if we need Rent.”
So what do you think, readers? Is it much ado about nothing? Is
Rent appropriate for high school or middle school students? Can you see a local school tackling this show?
I can't see it happening locally without major changes to the show - but maybe I'm wrong.
