The Kid
A new musical, in the same vein as Next to Normal and Passing Strange. The tale is told through the songs. The story is one that happens in every corner of America but one that many people, unfortunately, want to pretend doesn't exist.
Two gay men, 35 and 26, decide to have a child. We watch them go through the harrowing adoption process. The birth mother happens to be a homeless teen who got pregnant with her homeless teen boyfriend who has checked out. He comes back into the picture on occasion only to put the two men on edge worrying if the birth mother will change her mind. They not only want to adopt the baby, they want the baby to always know who the mother is. A new type of adoption. This kid will always know that these two men will care for him and guide him forever, thank god, but they are not his birth mother. Something to be said for that. There are the additional tensions of adopting a baby and worrying if you will love this kid like it is your own.
When the baby is born, it brought me back to when our kids were born. We are in the exit mode where are kids are slowly leaving the nest. It won't be long before they have all flown. I remember when Jessica was born and have the pictures of Fred holding her in this uncomfortable position because it was all so new and scary. By the time Emily came around, he picked her up like a pro. There is no doubt having kids is a life changer.
The play is funny, kitschy, brash and edgy. You can laugh, you can cry. The musical thing is not easy for me and my friend thought the music could have been better but there is something about the play. There is a message here. The two hilarious neurotic flaming men are thrilled to be parents to a kid that would have not seen such a bright future on the streets with a teenage kid. Considering Arkansas citizens just voted for a law that would make it impossible for gay couples or single parents to adopt children but luckily was found unlawful and discriminatory by the Supreme Court in Arkansas makes me wish that this play could be seen and embraced in Peoria (and of course Little Rock). Unfortunately, I am not sure our country is quite there yet.
Comments (Archived):
Your post didn’t mention it but in case you didn’t know, that play was based on a book by Dan Savage who’s been writing an “interesting” advice column in the Village Voice for many years.http://www.amazon.com/Kid-H…
Correct. Thanks
It is interesting you mention Peoria. I was in Indiana (next door state to Illinois) for a few years. I moved to NYC in 2005. I started calling myself a “refugee.” :-)You deal with a fairly complex social issue rather well. Checking the box is easy for even the “open minded.” As in, okay, so check me in, I am for gay marriage. What is hard is to get into the frame where people unsure struggle with it. To get in there and try and move a few minds, a few hearts.It is not true there is too much love in this world. I am for gay marriage. I am pro-life. I want gay couples to adopt all the left over children that the straight ones have not managed to adopt.”By the time Emily came around, he picked her up like a pro.” Ha! 🙂
I only picked Peoria because it is one of those sayings heard time and timeagain…”it will never play in Peoria”.It would be wonderful if more people felt how you do
It will never play in Peoria. I wonder how old that saying is. First time I am hearing it.