Books About People

The Supreme Court came out against books and it sucks. Sure, they say it's only some books but the reality of things is when the Supreme Court has said that picture books that mention anything about the world that parents somewhere might not like, it means several things. 

Teachers and librarians are going to have to figure out what books some parent somewhere might not like. My mom was a teacher, and once showed the Disney version of "The Lion King" (the original cartoon one which was rated PG) during after school care on a rainy day when they couldn't have outside time, and had a parent complain. That child's other parent was surprised to hear that because they had taken the kids to see the movie. 

So, in order to prevent further issues they only showed G movies. 

This case was brought by parents in Montgomery County, Maryland. A place I attended school. It wasn't my parents objecting since I am above picture book age. But it feels close. 

The idea that anything aimed at a picture book audience could be so terrible that a child couldn't possibly see it or hear about it, sort of defies the principles of educating children. I am not saying parents can't have values. Of course they can. I once read an op-ed by parents who hate the curriculum about recycling, because they feel the way we truck recycled items around in this country actually creates more climate harm than it saves. That is a perspective. And I understand that when children are in the sponge learning stage, it can be hard to figure out how to say, yes your teachers are very knowledgeable, but also I personally do not agree with everything they taught you today. But guess what, this is the world. Exposure to other people and other ideas is a normal response to talking to other people. You and your children should be prepared for that. 

But let's also talk about what it means for the authors of these books. First it is incredibly sad for them. They worked hard to make books that were lovely and thoughtful and age appropriate. And now they are being told that their books cannot be safely shown to some children if their parents disagree. 

Now when you google their books, you will get a Supreme Court case. 

Many libraries and schools will remove these books from their collections. 

Many libraries and schools will choose not to ask these authors and illustrators to come to their schools.

Should these authors and illustrators choose to produce another book, they will have to decide if they should be more cautious about subject matter or not. 

When their publishers review their sales record, they will likely not consider that being banned from certain schools and libraries hurt their sales. They will just have low sales. And so they will get either lower offers or no offers when their work is being considered. 

Being banned doesn't help your sales, even if you know some authors who were banned and are successful. Judy Blue, to give an example, is not successful because she got banned. She is successful because she happened to write enough bestsellers to counter being banned. Not everyone gets the chance to do that. 

What can you do? Write to your library and tell them you love books. Thank them for displays or programming that includes books that have characters of all kinds. If your library has a board, show up to the meetings. I sent my library what I called a love letter. I was specific about the things I loved that they were doing. 

And I am writing to my city council as they discuss budget to indicate how much I think the library is an important part of our budget. 

"A Wrinkle in Time" at Arena Stage

Content note: bullying

I'm going to start by covering the musical, and then talk a little about differences from the book.

Meg and Charles Wallace Murry's father disappeared two years ago. Three strange ladies, who say they are more like stars than angels, appear and say they know how to help Meg and Charles Wallace find him. Calvin, a school mate arrives and says he felt compelled to talk to Meg. The three ladies decide he should also join them. Three three kids and three ladies journey across planets in their quest to retrieve Dr. Murry. 

I got a little teary in the very first song, so I was sucked in quickly. The cast includes Amber Gray as Mrs. Whatsit, and Vickie Lewis as Mrs. Which. I mention them because I was familiar with their work but the cast was excellent from top to bottom. The music was enchanting in places, ethereal and otherworldly in others. The costumes and hair were fascinating. And they made great use of a smallish stage. 

It was amazing enough that I considered going immediately to buy another ticket to see it again. 

Now. I still have lines from this book memorized. So I am both an avid and annoying audience. There are changes, books are not musicals. But that this show was crafted by folks who love this story seemed clear throughout. 

Some obvious changes, the twins are gone. (Sorry Sandy and Dennis fans.) Charles Wallace wears overalls, but is played by a college kid. He is believably in school, but not believably six. (His age is not mentioned.) 

Calvin is new in town, and no mention is made of siblings. Only that his parents work multiple jobs and might not notice if he misses dinner. 

They chose to act out the tesseract, which was to me a little odd, but I got used to it, as the tesseract went on. 

I don't want to spoil how they changed the meeting with It, but I thought it worked well.

Note: I attended a masked showing. Most patrons seemed to arrive without masks, and made use of the surgical masks the ticket takers gave out.

"Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations" at National Theater

Content note: brief references to suicide, racism, addiction, gender essentialism, and chronic illness.

A friend invited me to join her and her two kids at the show. With this being a jukebox musical, she had expected some hits and a smidgeon of plot. The book was based on Eddie*'s memoir of the group. The show, as the subtitle might lead you to believe attempts to chronicle the formation, founding and the struggles and successes of a group with a multi-decade career. 

As such it kinda speedruns through a lot of information, and if your kids are at the "why" stage, there's a lot of room for why questions. 

In some ways the show reminded me of "Bohemian Rhapsody", not because Queen and The Temptations are comparable groups, but because when the folks left alive to tell the story are in charge of the narrative, it favors them. 

Now, I do not know more about the inner working of The Temptations than Otis does. But the show posits that he became the leader, even as the other characters keep telling him he's not in charge, they are supposed to be a group. 

Summarizing a multi-decade career while also making time to sing about twenty songs, in the length of a musical is always going to be a nearly impossible task. But were there entertaining songs and fun choreography? Yes, absolutely. 

But if you or anyone you are going to the show with has a lot of why questions, probably make time to skim some Temptations history too, either before or after the show. 

DC: I Love You, Ready or Not at the Folger Theater

The ending affects so much of how you feel about a thing, that it can color your perception of the whole thing.

While conceptually related to the Mt. Pleasant version in the use of multiple places, one for each scene, though this time in or near the Folger, there were some differences.

Instead of a new couple and new actors in each setting, we followed three actors. Two of them played the same character throughout, and one played multiple characters. 

I spotted two other scenes for later groups, and there was some gender bended casting. So the gender of the characters was different, depending on which group you ended up in. 

Hunter, our main character was having a day. Hunter was being followed by an audience no one else seemed able to see. One character, suggested Hunter might be in a rom-com. Another, who had a ukulele, suggested it might be a musical. Hunter tried leaning in, but wasn't feeling it, so then tried to escape the audience. It gets a little more meta after that.

We were advised early not to interact with the actors, because one of them could see us, and in fact at one point asked us to stop following them. There were some incredible lines, and in my group, two of the actors had been in the Mt. Pleasant version, so it was great to see them again so soon.

Go with a friend who you can talk about the ending with.

All locations accessible by ramp or elevator.  ETA: Originally I wrote genderblind casting, which I belated realized was a very ableist turn of phrase. I apologize for my usage.

"Senior Class" at Olney Theatre Center

Content note: classism. 

A show about teens who discover there is no budget left to put on a show, definitely feels like it has been done before. A show about teens who decide to do "Pygmalion" (public domain!) but update it for a modern audience and maybe make it a musical, has also been done before. (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, anyone?) But some ideas are repeated because they are great ideas. After all, I've loved approximately ten different versions of "A Christmas Carol". 

I adored this show. George Bernard Washington, G.B. to his friends, as the writer/director of the show made clear how much the act of writing and directing feels a little like being Professor Higgins, trying to mold something in a new direction but discovering the thing you are trying to mold doesn't always accept your directions. 

Alyzé as a broke ballerina who does subway showtime dancing to help raise funds for her schooling was wonderful. 

And Colin, G.B.'s best friend who dreams of a Jimmy award, and casts a jock as Pickering to his Higgins was delightful.

The choreography was wonderful. The songs were fun. The direction was delightfully specific. If you are a person who likes peeking at the background actors, they were always doing little things that made them seem more like fully rounded characters. 

My one critique would be the sound design seemed to overwhelm some of the solo singers.

And the lesson that no one wants to be Higgins, Higgins gets left all alone, community is what you need, was perfect.

(Also those of you who recall my opinion that Freddy is Liza's best choice, well, this shows agrees with me.)