We just wrapped this production before Thanksgiving - and we had to reassure our admin that we would handle those scenes tastefully. For "They Fell" - we had 2 guys rather than 2 girls - but I also just saw a post on a FB group last night about similar potential concerns - and of the comments was very insightful.
"Each story in this show is about love and humanity - each are conveyed in the style of magical realism and require an understanding of symbolism and metaphor - not once is there any direct reference to the characters' sexuality, nor do they have any intimate contact... the play conveys that there are all types of love... who is to say that one person could interpret that scene as the beginning of romantic love, while another person could interpret it as platonic love between two friends who realize they fulfill each other's needs as partners." (J. Ievolo)
I must also put in a plug that I absolutely HIGHLY recommend using the original music for this production! It is linked on the website for licensing. It's $20 to purchase, and then $20 for each performance royalty... we started the music in Scene 8 (the snowmobilers) scene - and it was PERFECT to lend to scene as underscoring. Ours had just a few layers, ending up in jeans/flannel shirt (him) or leggings/flannel shirt (her)... and it was very tasteful.
Admin hasn't said that we've received any negative remarks/complaints at all. Our (new) HS principal came to our senior citizen performance and had nothing buy praise for how it was done. (We had to meet with him this summer before he approved the play - and the other scene he was concerned about was the one at the Moose Paddy because they were drinking alcohol, and we had to assure him that we would do so responsibly.)
It is a wonderful play - I hope that it goes well for you!
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Melissa Mintzer
Willow Street PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-02-2015 10:09
From: Nancee Beilgard
Subject: Almost Maine question
Thanks so much for all the feedback! I feel a lot better about plowing ahead with my original intent (the red long johns). "They Fell" is not one that concerns me at all, maybe it should, but I am in a liberal college town and am hoping there is no issue there. I was just worried about the stripping issue! Thanks again.
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Nancee Beilgard
Lawrence KS
Original Message:
Sent: 01-31-2015 18:54
From: Rob Juergens
Subject: Almost Maine question
I have done the show three times; in a HS setting and twice with community theater. I am in a small Southern Maine community and got 0 negative feedback. The guys who did the strip had more than 10 layers and it was hysterical. The most sensitive piece is definitely "They Fell"; but most people get the irony and real life agony of these decisions.
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Rob Juergens
High School Musical Director
Windham ME
Original Message:
Sent: 01-30-2015 10:36
From: Nancee Beilgard
Subject: Almost Maine question
I see many of you have put on this great show-my question is how you handled the final scene in a high school setting? Did you have the kids strip down to the long underwear? And if so-what was the general response?
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Nancee Beilgard
Lawrence KS
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