Pet Sounds may have been one of the greatest theatrical events that Hampton Roads has had in the last year.  This production was created by Bruce Hanson and Students from Granby High School and performed at 40^th St. Stage.  Now many may ask, “why was it not performed at Granby High School?”  Well simply put, subject matter.  That was a call made by the Principal at Granby High School and a good one at that.

Pet Sounds is a musical which uses the music of Petula Clark and is weaved together with monologues and dialogue to help tell the story of Nigel who explores and discovers his own sexuality.  However, this show doesn’t stop there, it also explores the difficulties of growing up a teenager in today’s world - from sexual abuse to relationships.  These students wrote monologues and scenes that tell their story and weave their emotions together with the music of Petula Clark.  All of this was guided under the hospice of Bruce Hanson the Drama Instructor at Granby High School.  

Now earlier I mentioned the Principal decided that they could still perform the show but needed to move it out of the school.  This was a good call as it probably would have brought too many repercussions to the school, the teacher, and the students.  But let us also realize that it also benefited the production to be in such a small versatile space as opposed to a high school auditorium. 

I must say the Principal needs to be commended.

Let’s discuss a little about the production.  The set is made up of cut outs from the New York City skyline with projections that appear on a screen center stage to give an idea of where we are or occasionally is used to provide visuals as Nigel introduces the cast or other aspects of exposition.  The rest is created by moving chairs on and off stage.  There is never a moment where you question, “Where am I?”  You travel easily from bedroom, to subway, to classroom all the way to the end of the year Performing Arts High School Fund Raiser. 

If the idea that these students were able to create and tell such a story doesn’t move or impress you, or the fact that they sing, dance and act or able to bare their souls before familiar and unfamiliar faces in the audience then I don’t know what will.  When I say bare their souls I mean there is nothing hidden. I mean each of the issues they discuss you believe, or at least I believe, they have experienced in some manner or maybe have had a close friend who has lived these stories.  Some spend time explaining how difficult it is to survive high school because of how they look or how the class-clown hides behind jokes because of his size.  Some even explore “What if I’m blonde? Does it really mean I’m stupid?"  This is just the tip of the iceberg and these students are writing about themselves. 

I wish we were all so brave.

I cannot say enough good things about these performers or this production.  They handle every aspect of the production with ease.  Some focus more on singing, others on monologues.  They know their strengths and they focus on them.  I know I can’t wait to see what these students create next and what Bruce Hanson has to offer them as they take on their next project.

Every school system should hope to have a Bruce Hanson on faculty and a Principal that knows education goes beyond the 3 R’s. 

I know this review may upset some or question whether or not students should be performing this ‘stuff’.  Well need I remind you that there was a time that teenagers listened to Satan’s music of the 50’s?  We call it Rock-n-Roll.  What about that disgusting performer who due to his act couldn’t be shown from the waste down on television because it was considered pornographic?  We called him Elvis.  Most importantly there was a time when blacks and whites couldn’t go to school together.   I for one am glad that has changed.  Let us remember that

every generation has experienced something that was considered ‘unacceptable.’