So I am this really fun show called All Shook Up at the Hale Center Theater in Orem. Its about a small town that is boring and is overly cautious of everything.. kinda. Its almost Footloose in the 50's. Now the 1950's are one of, if not my most favorite of the decades. This show is packed full of good music and dancing and our casts are brilliant.
My reason for writing about this show are the issues it brings to our attention. In it there are struggles with love and racism and all that jazz. They are all issues that of course need attention. All ends well in the show. But again not my real intent for the blog.
There is a part in the show that deals with Chad falling in love with "ED". Now Ed is really the main girl, natalie, who dresses up like a boy to become friends with Chad and get closer to him, as she is in love with him. But yada yada they have tons in common and Chad falls for Ed. Naturally he is upset and weirded out by the whole "Homosexual" feeling. But he decided love should prevail no matter the situation, gender, color etc. So he accepts he fell in love with his friend Ed.. even though he is a boy.(of course he finds out Ed is a she, natalie, and all is well anyway.. but its cool he decides love is love)
Now beings we're in Utah County, we had to cut some lines and revamp the plot and script to make it so people can tolerate it. So now its as if he is still upset that he could ever have homosexual feelings toward his friend and that its all wrong and repulsive. And that in the end its always better if your with a girl. That is the gist of what we changed it to.
It shouldn't upset me. But it does. If anything we should be leaving the script as is to show people love DOES prevail all and we should accept what our hearts want.. no matter color, gender, age, occupation or whatever other excuses people hide.
We DID, however, leave in all the racial lines and plots.. while thats great and interracial dating is great now.. its no longer an issue. Meaning, we can make those jokes and RELIVE how dumb we were for thinking interracial love and marriage was bad.
SO why not start showing people the real issues of TODAY right?
Of course, me being a gay guy in Utah, i feel different than most about the changes in our show. I am not so much upset at the theater or director for the changes- cuz they would keep it if they could.. but the fact that this stupid valley needs everything formed to their way or they can't f***ing function.
I am very happy. I know that God still loves me and i am a great person. Just because i can fall in love with a great guy doesn't make me any less of a human being. GET OVER YOURSELVES ALREADY!!!! My hell.
This is all i am going to say about this. Live your own f***ing lives and accept others for being happy.
The show is also still really good, despite the ignorant changes. Our director is great, the dancing is a blast.. and music, well, its Elvis.. need i say more? no.. BRILLIANCE
blah blah blah.. the end
[p.s... Its also weird cuz i may or may not be "all shook up" for someone in the cast... ssssh]
