by Christina Collins, 2/10/10
You think you know me, but you don’t.
This is the familiar refrain of Laurie Brooks’ The Wrestling Season, the winter production from Olympia Family Theater. It’s their show for older kids and teens, and examines issues facing its target audience, specifically homophobia and that old devil gossip.
It’s been a long time since I was encamped in the killing fields of high school, and while I was there I was marking time to get out and be cool, so I am not necessarily the target demographic. I’d see it anyway. OFT has a tradition of presenting high-quality productions, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The production itself follows the OFT model of solid actors doing solid work. It looks good, it sounds good, it is good, even if you’re not worried about passing your Algebra 3-4 final.
For those of you worried about your SAT scores or whether or not you’ll get some prime yearbook real estate, The Wrestling Season is the show to see. Brooks does an able job of creating a recognizable situation and giving her stock characters some pretty good dialogue. She doesn’t shy away from the heavy stuff (in a bid to reaffirm his masculinity Matt assaults his girlfriend; maybe Luke really is gay; sometimes people are just bad people; Heather, the girlfriend of bad guy Jolt, upholds the grand tradition of evil high-school girls bearing that name). It’s meaty stuff, at least as far as pre-college opera goes.
Even though you’re probably well-versed in the show’s message, it’s still something to take your son or daughter or friends to. In keeping with OFT’s mission the show ends with a talkback session, a place for kids and grownups alike to share their opinions with each other. It’s just as important for the adults—time to engage with the issues, not just nod knowingly.
Basically, even if you think you know the short answers, there’s always time for an essay question. We all know homophobia is wrong, that gossip can destroy lives. For the younger people who know this stuff inside, but maybe not out, The Wrestling Season provides an opportunity for them to find support, acknowledgement, and a voice. ◙
The Wrestling Seaston runs at the Minneart Center at SPSCC through February 20. For more information about Olympia Family Theater, visit www.olyft.org.