Parent raises objection over LHS play

The adult content of a student play now in production at La Grande High School is sparking a protest.

Melissa Jackman, a La Grande parent, submitted an official protest Tuesday against the play “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” by Steve Martin. LHS students are in their third week of rehearsals for the play, scheduled to be performed April 23-25.

Jackman, in her complaint, asks that either the play be canceled, a different one be performed in its place or that all of its adult content be deleted or substituted.

Jackman, a mother of six children, all of whom are enrolled in the La Grande School District, said that the adult themes and language in the play are intolerable.

“I find the play inappropriate for high school students to memorize and perform. The play contains adult themes and is not appropriate for children,’’ said Jackman, who works as a substitute teacher in Union County, including at the La Grande School District.

Jackman’s written complaint was accompanied by a petition 137 community members signed. The petition also asks that another play be substituted or that all adult content be deleted.

Jackman stressed that neither the petition or the letter of protest are directed against anyone in the

La Grande School District. The play was selected by LHS French and English teacher Kevin Cahill, who is directing the production. Jackman, who had Cahill as a teacher at LHS, has high regard for his ability.

“He is a very, very talented educator,’’ she said.

Three of Jackman’s daughters attend LHS. Jackman wanted her daughters to perform in a play directed by Cahill.

“I wanted them to learn from his talent,’’ Jackman said.

Jackman became concerned after she saw audition scripts students had to read for the play. The scripts were actual passages from the play. Jackman later obtained the play’s

complete script. She said the play has 18 instances of profanity, 15 instances of “religious exclamation or religious profanities,’’ 22 instances of sexual references or sexual content and 17 instances of alcohol use.

One of the passages Jackman objects to, which has sexual references but no profanities, is for a character named Suzanne. It reads:

“Then I thought, why is it that someone who wants me can hang around for months, and I even like him but I’m not going to sleep with him, but someone else says the right thing and I’m on my back, not knowing what hit me.’’

Jackman believes the play should not be performed at LHS even though some of what students see and hear on television, in movies and the Internet is worse than the adult content of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.”

“As a school we are here to maintain standards. Some of the standards we provide are the only ones they see. Why not hold to a high standard?’’ Jackman said.

“Picasso at the Lapin Agile” was written by Martin, the well known actor and comedian, in 1993. It features the characters of Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, who meet at 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 relativity in 1905 and Picasso painted Les Demoiselle d’Avigonon in 1907.

LHS students auditioned for Martin’s play in January. They received audition packets in December. Cahill noted that he alerted students auditioning for the play that there were adult themes.

“I wanted to make sure they knew the situation before they signed up for the project,’’ Cahill said.

He did not select Martin’s script because of any shock value it might contain.

“I would never choose a play for the purpose of offending anyone. That is not my intention,’’ Cahill said.

He said that rehearsals are going well.

“We have an excellent cast which is committed to doing an excellent job on the show.’’

Jackman first began expressing her concerns about the play to district officials Jan. 12, before cast members had been assigned parts. On Friday she met with Superintendent Larry Glaze, LHS Principal Doug Potter and Cahill to discuss her concerns.

Glaze will soon make a decision regarding Jackman’s letter of complaint. Any decision the superintendent makes can be appealed to the school board.