'Rent' gets OK for O.C. high school performance

At Corona del Mar High School, the show will go on.

After a flap that raised the ire of the gay community and ruffled feathers on the Newport Beach campus, drama students will be allowed to stage a production of "Rent," a musical about bohemians living in New York City.

"I never had a problem with the play selected by Mr. Martin," said Corona del Mar High School Principal Fal Asrani, in a statement released by the school district. "The selection of our drama productions is his call. I just requested the opportunity to review the script before it was final. [The school ]administration received parent concerns from a previous play and I wanted to be able to ensure my commitment to the concerned parents as well as show my support of the student production without any reservation.”

What transpired in the original meeting between drama teacher Ron Martin and Asrani is a matter of dispute between the two.

Martin said Asrani questioned the portrayal of homosexuality and prostitution in the play and requested a copy of the script. According to Martin, when he said he could not provide a script in time for her review and to obtain clearance by the licensing company, Asrani opted to cancel the show.

Asrani and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District confirm that Asrani did ask for a script to review, a common practice, and that Martin could not provide one, but say -- with corroboration from other school officials -- that the decision to shut down the show was Martin's.

Drama students and alumni spoke out against the show's cancellation, which some labeled as intolerance, as the controversy filtered onto blogs.

Last week, Martin requested a rush copy of the toned-down school edition of "Rent," which he gave Asrani on Monday. Martin could not be immediately reached for comment.

-- Susannah Rosenblatt

Comments

[NBparent]

Good job Fal at getting through this, at least so far. You didn't get where you are without learning a few lessons. Still, I wish you would stop trying to intimidate parents, students, and teachers. The district is trying to protect you, but maybe it's time to move on. A growing number of families and alumni don't think very well of you. It's a shame, because you've done some good things too. But on the tolerance and sensitivity scale you earn a zero. Those of us who have had some experience dealing with you don't buy a word of "I never had a problem dealing with the play selected by Mr. Martin"

[Albert]

It is important that the students respond harshly to this. To give in to this sort of cancellation due to lack of tolerance is smallminded indeed. On the other hand, if it all comes down to Asrani really just not being allowed the script one might understand the dilemma.