You Can’t “Rent” In Trumbull

This week, Trumbull took a star turn in the spotlight usually reserved for small towns filled with small-minded people, many many miles from Broadway.

But the principal of Trumbull High School really stepped in it when he decreed that “Rent” — the Pulitzer Prize-winning, long-running hit musical — would not be allowed as the Thespian Society’s spring production.

A few days later, Trumbull’s Board of Education backed him up. They too believe that some of the show’s plot elements — homosexuality, drug use, AIDS — are inappropriate for high school students.

Showing far more wisdom and insight than their elders — and plenty of restraint — an enormous number of Trumbull students disagreed. They pointed out that sex and drugs are part of their reality. They talked respectfully about the importance of artistic freedom. And they started a Facebook page that garnered thousands of pledges of support.

The tempest in Trumbull stands in stark contrast to the high school theater scene in Westport, just a few miles away. In recent years, Staples has produced “controversial” — aka “real” — shows like “The Laramie Project” and “Cabaret.” Nearly 20 years ago, they staged “Falsettos.”

And in 2010, Players’ summer production was “Rent.”

Westport points with pride to Players — and rightly so. In weeks like this, we should be proud too of our administrators and Board of Education. Not for “allowing” Players to do such important theater — that’s something every educator should encourage — but for never even causing anyone here to think it could possibly be an issue.

Staples Players’ “Rent” cast members in 2010 (from left) Chris McNiff, David Ressler and Tyler Jent. (Photo by Kerry Long)