This coming Friday and Saturday, the Alchemist Theater Group at North Brunswick Township High School [NBTHS] — my son was an Alchemist for four years and did 10 shows — will perform their fall show, as they have done since the 1970s when the school opened.
What makes this year’s show different? Well, in my opinion, it should be nothing. It’s just a group of dedicated, hardworking and talented kids doing what they love — being on stage, working tech crew or helping with direction, production, ticket and merchandise sales.
Unfortunately, a repulsive group has threatened to demonstrate this production and exploit our kids, only for the promotion of their own agenda. I’ve done some “homework” on the Westboro Baptist Church, and sometimes that’s all they do, is threaten; they may not even show up. If they do, so be it. They’ll show their signs, squawk a little and leave.
Whether it’s “Romeo and Juliet,” “Don’t Drink the Water,” or “The Laramie Project,” it’s the kids’ fall show, not a political statement, and should not be treated as such. It’s not an opportunity to promote an agenda, or counter one, or gain publicity for yourself. There’s a proper time and place for that, and it’s not now at NBTHS at the expense of taking away from our kids and their show.
Why don’t you just buy a bunch of tickets, go in, enjoy a great performance and give a standing ovation at the end? That would be appreciated by the kids and the community more than demonstrations, politics, celebrations or other unrelated actions. Maybe this show will fill our beautiful 1,000-seat theater and be talked about in the future for all the right reasons – a great show done by great kids.
Let the focus be where it belongs — on the kids.
Bob Lynch North Brunswick

