Board denies appeal to bring back LHS play

THE SHOW MUST GO ON: La Grande High School teacher and play director Kevin Cahill pleads his case before the school board and audience of community members and students. Observer photos/CHRIS BAXTER

BY THE BOOK: Quoting specific excerpts from school policy, La Grande School District Superintendent Larry Glaze explains to the school board the process that led to his decision to cancel the play.

The La Grande School Board, following a spirited, contentious but civil hearing before about 300 people, voted 4-3 Wednesday to uphold a decision by Superintendent Larry Glaze to cancel the LHS play “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” by Steve Martin.

“I am disappointed but not surprised,’’ said LHS sophomore Madison Young, a student involved with the play’s production.

listening to the debate: School Board members, from left, Merle Comfort, Randy Tweten, John McKinnon and Glen Herman, listen to arguments for and against Superintendent Glaze’s decision to cancel the play.

Potter spoke out against censorship during a presentation to the board Wednesday. He said that everyone agrees that public “K-12’’ schools should be held to a higher standard.

“But I submit that censorship is not the higher standard,’’ Potter said.

The principal said that standard should encourage, “in this democratic society,’’ an expression of the diversity of options and a tolerance of the views of other people.

“Our standards should show some faith and trust in the intelligence of our students. Censorship doesn’t do that,’’ Potter said.

Cahill stressed that the play is a comedy and that people should not lose sight of this when addressing its adult content, which include sexual references.

“Comedy makes us laugh first, reflect later. Steve Martin invites us to do both. Laughing at sex isn’t the same as endorsing it,’’ Cahill said.

Following presentations by Cahill and Potter, the public weighed in during a comment session that extended for more than hour. Steve Donnell of La Grande is among those who spoke in support of canceling the play.

“Whenever a play that is performed in the school environment and is a school-sanctioned function mocks these standards and encourages counterproductive conduct, that play should not be an official function of the school,’’ Donnell said.

John Sprenger, a retired LHS teacher, also spoke out against the play. He emphasized, though, that he was not speaking against those connected to the production, such as Cahill, who selected the play.

“I would be appalled if anyone attacked Kevin personally. I’m attacking the play.’’

Sprenger said that it is clear to him that the play’s adult content violates school district policy.

“I see no alternative but for the board to follow its own policy,’’ Sprenger said.

standing room only: A crowd of about 300 filled the La Grande Middle School Commons Wednesday night to listen and provide input regarding the cancellation of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,� by Steve Martin.

“I strongly believe censorship erodes the human soul,’’ Rice said.

Stacy Shown, a La Grande parent, said she objected to the profanity in the play.

“As parents we need to set a standard,’’ Shown said.

She also said that if the play were allowed to go forward at LHS, many conservative families would move their children out of the La Grande School District and into charter or online schools or begin home schooling.

Greg Monahan, an EOU history professor, told the board that Cahill went through all of the right channels to get the play approved. He said that to ban the play after all the rules had been followed “would be a gross miscarriage of justice.’’

A number of people said they were upset with the play’s content because it would exclude them from attending.

Cahill noted, though, that the number of people at the meeting was greater than the number who attend plays.

“Let’s be honest here. You have not been coming (to the plays),’’ Cahill said.

Board members Merle Comfort, Reed Waite, Glen Herman and Keith Walker voted against the appeal and to uphold Glaze’s decision. Michael Frasier, John McKinnon and Randy Tweten voted in support of the appeal.

Herman said that he had received 50 e-mails on the subject, and 45 were in support of Glaze’s decision. This input and Herman’s faith in Glaze’s ability had a big impact on his decision.

“I have a great deal of respect for Larry. He is so connected to the pulse of the community,’’ Herman said.

Waite said he was influenced by a survey he did at work. He showed the passages of the play to 20 people, and all 20 said it is not appropriate.

Frasier, prior to voting, said it is unfortunate that issues concerning the play were not addressed before a boiling point was reached. He said people need to be aware of possible controversy and take steps to head this off.

“They need to be proactive before there is a firestorm of controversy.’’

He noted that the play was successfully produced last year at West Linn High School. Frasier said he called there and learned from an administrator that West Linn is known for putting on cutting-edge productions. He also was told that the play had been edited.

Frasier said editing is always an option, and that as music teacher at LHS he often edited musical productions. The board member said he believes that a better play could have been selected at LHS.

“It was the wrong play to do. Adults were in error,’’ Frasier said. “The kids did not do anything wrong.’’

Still, Frasier endorsed having “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” performed at LHS.

“My solution, “If you don’t like it, don’t go. If you don’t want your kids in it, don’t let them be in it,’’ Frasier said before his vote.

“Picasso at the Lapin Agile” was written by Steve Martin, the well known comedian and actor, in 1993.

The play would have been performed at LHS April 23-25. Auditions for the play were conducted in mid-January, and rehearsals started Feb. 2.

The play features the characters of Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, who meet in a bar called the Lapin Agile in Paris in 1904, when both men are on the verge of creating their landmark works.

Einstein published his theory of relatively in 1905, and Picasso painted the Les Demoiselles d’Avignon in 1907.

Rehearsals for the play ended at LHS after the play was canceled. Rehearsals are now being conducted in the homes of students involved with the production.

LHS senior Richie Scott, who has a lead role in the play, is hopeful that the play can be performed off campus at a site such as EOU.

“I want to let the community know that we will do the play regardless of what it takes. They have not silenced us.’’