What I liked
Music and Choreography
What I didn't like
Grossly overwritten and misogynistic.
My overall impression
Chris Valenti has taken a book out of Trumps playbook and uses catchy tunes and fancy video projections to distract from his underlying message of misogyny and justification of bad behavior. It’s easy to get caught up in the energy of the performance because the cast is giving it their all but it is important, especially in these times, and with PRIDE just around the corner, to RESIST this dated way of thinking and push toward progress.
Examples:
He equates the feminist movement to the “internet trolls” who violently threaten to rape and kill women.
Once the female love interest actually starts to show independence and strength, she breaks up with her best friend, who encouraged these new traits, and goes back to her ex-boyfriend.
After being humiliated by having the sexual harassment she endured publicly broadcasted and by being stalked, all by her ex-boyfriend… she forgives him without an apology and… MAKES HIM A SANDWICH.
The one female character who is written to be somewhat smart (not the love interest of course) is the villainous character and is discredited over and over because she stands up for herself and the rights of others.
He sings a heinous ballad about how he doesn’t have to apologize for his actions no matter who they offend because “he was just being himself” and it’s everyone else’s problem if they don’t get his jokes… which is the main platform Trump ran on and continues to use as an excuse for inciting violence and bigotry.
He says the world was a better place before anyone had to worry about being politically correct. It took all the strength I had to not walk out at that point and felt like I was sitting through an alt-right propaganda piece.
The last number is just another example of “being offensive because it’s funny” and that’s exactly what he claims in the middle of it. I was stunned to see him go even lower when I thought it wasn’t possible.
I am upset I spent money to come see it and I urge you to make a donation instead to Planned Parenthood or ANY other organization that stands against these views and is fighting against men like like the creator of this musical.
BEWARE OF THE WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING!!!!
