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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                        Robyn Morrow             Chris Elliott                        
                                               John Arterbury       Caitlin Cuppernull

Exploiting controversy is almost as bad as prohibiting it 

Originally banned last month from being performed at the Wilton, Conn. high school where it was written, a play titled "Voices of Concern" is getting a second, and perhaps undeserved, chance.

But the issue of integrity must take backseat to the more imperative -- and obvious -- issue of censorship. While it is a well-known fact that students sacrifice certain rights upon entering a high school, Principal Timothy H. Canty's cancellation of a student-produced play that featured monologues from soldiers of the Iraq war comes across as more of an unnecessary precaution than an adherence to schools' policy.

According to the New York Times, Canty canceled the play because of "concerns about political balance, sourcing, and the possibility of hurting Wilton residents ‘who had lost loved ones or who had individuals serving'." 

Canceling a play because it might hurt someone's feelings is the equivalent of not teaching students about slavery or war. These are not pleasant events, but they can foster important questions, debate and understanding.

Since the cancellation, the still-unperformed play has received a great deal of attention, receiving a "Courage in Theater" award and being booked for several performances in June, including a show in an Off-Broadway venue. 

Giving these students an avenue to express their opinions and creativity is a good thing, but the fact that something is shrouded in controversy is not reason enough to perform it. The students' theater teacher has even said that the cast may read from scripts to make them more comfortable. 

While it was wrong for the play to be banned, it is also seems wrong that these venues are booking a play with an unfinished script and an unprepared cast. Just because it's risqué doesn't mean it is a quality production.