From Raw Story:
A Texas school district canceled a field trip to see a performance of "James and the Giant Peach" after a single parent complained that actors were dressed in drag. The parent raised concerns at a recent school board meeting that some actors were playing both men and women in the performance, saying that was inappropriate for children, and the Spring Branch Independent School District canceled the visit, reported KTRK-TV."Spring Branch ISD's pending field trips to the Main Street Theater performance of 'James and the Giant Peach' are being canceled due to concerns raised about the age-appropriateness of the performance," administrators told the TV station.The play, which is based on the Roald Dahl book, is intended for children as young as first grade, and a spokeswoman for Main Street Theater said the parent who complained was wrong. "Drag is a different art form," said Shannon Emerick, the theater's marketing director. "There is a whole art form that is drag. The amazing thing is the kids just believe the story. They're not interested in any agendas or anything else anyone thinks is going on."
The parent who raised questions ,Jessica Gerland, gave an interview to a local news station, KHOU11:
“The way that they are normalizing this, especially in front of 5- to 6-year-olds, it just raises concerns for some parents,” she said.Gerland says she brought her concerns to the district at Monday’s school board meeting, after calling Main Street Theater to get additional details. She says the theater told her actors play multiple roles that are both male and female.
"She explained to me how they wear flamboyant makeup and wigs to make it fun for the kids," she said. "Do you know what the definition of a drag queen is?" . . ."It's something that I thought would be more appropriate for high schoolers, not kindergarteners,” said Gerland.
James and the Giant Peach is a very popular children's book (I've read it) which was published in 1961. It tells the story of young boy who escapes his abusive aunts by way of a giant peach, which he and several giant insects ride to America while avoiding sharks, seagulls, and "Cloud men" along the way. My guess is that the play adapts all of this for the stage. If actors are in drag during the performance, I sincerely doubt they will be doing any of those things which conservatives and wannabe social media influencers like to mischaracterize as "child-grooming techniques." Somehow I don't envision the evil aunts adorned in glittery sequins while lip syncing to Lady Gaga or the female insects getting tips from the audience while performing gymnastic splits.
No one should be surprised that the anti-drag hysteria has come to this. On the contrary, we should be delighted that is has come to this. What better way to expose the idiocy of this entire moral panic against drag shows and drag queens?
God help us if these parental crusaders go after Bugs Bunny next. I hear he has quite a fetching wardrobe.
