Dandy Mandy

A new stage for abortion

I was surprised. I love broadway not just for the music and often sweet and/or dramatic stories that more often than not end in a flurry of warm feelings of love and loss (Les Miz), of things coming out right in the end (Oklahoma!), of lessons learned and finding what's really important in life (Rent).

Well initially I fell into the trap of a new musical, Spring Awakening. http://www.springawakening.com/spring_awakening_on_broadway.php
This show has been hailed as a new Rent for this generation. I excitedly got the CD and loved the music, it's so beautiful and catchy. So today I decided to look up more of the details of the plot.

Based on the Frank Wendekind play of 1891 (often banned for it's content) of the same name. Spring Awakening deals with teens in Germany way back when there was no aknowledgement of teenage hormones and angst. In the play plot Melchior a 14 y.o. boy is dealing with his new urges and is the only character who actually knows about sexual reproduction. Wendla is a beautiful 14 y.o. girl who wants to know but is told only about the stork. After she is raped by Melchior she becomes pregnant and is sent by her mother to get an abortion. This results in Wendla's death. Now the Broadway musical stuck to the plot with the exception of the rape, now it is shown in a light of consentual sex. My concern is how can 14 y.o. sex be acceptable entertainment? How can a boy who knows the truth talk a girl into doing something she does not understand be seen not only as concentual but as love?? He does not love her as much as love her ability to satiate his selfish desires.

Then, as I read on it got worse :
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/teen-pregnancy-sex-education/spring-awakening-6242.htm

Planned Parenthood apparently has decided that children under their guidance will never have to end up like these characters. If only Planned Parenthood had existed then.. What!!!

I do agree that the show points out the dangers of not educating your children, of being afraid to talk to them about such difficult things. That as parents this one of your most important and toughest responibilities.

However, I feel that this show does not justify this lesson. Although I will mention that I have not seen it, and I know only what I have read. But based on what I have read, the music may be great but I am sickened.