Expect CoMMA to stretch its wings

By: Bill Wilson | Morganton News Herald
Published: January 07, 2009

Deciding what plays, concerts and other stage events that will dot the MainStage Morganton 2009-10 season and landscape is going to be an interesting and most challenging task during the next few months.
With few exceptions, contract fees are not falling or scaling back the way we see products of other industries — rather they are holding the course, or in some cases, increasing.
CoMMA has been blessed with the support, through thick and thin, of both our season ticket subscribers and single ticket buyers who choose hometown Morganton as the place to spend not only their leisure money but also their time. Without that participation, it would be next to impossible for us to prosper or continue.
It goes without saying that much of what is presented on the MainStage season is safe — safe financially and philosophically. Shows like "Annie" and "Man of La Mancha" as well as the concerts of nostalgia legends such as Davy Jones or Doc Watson, keep the boat afloat on numerous levels. These are tried and true titles and artists that we tend to want to see again and again.
Not very often, but occasionally, we push the envelope a bit to performances that are a more relevant, if you will — ones that reflect the times in which we truly live.
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," performed by a professional touring cast this past Monday evening, is one of those plays that captures our attention on numerous levels. The spelling bee is merely a vehicle not only for a musical but also to explore the trials and real frustrations as young people go through their teen years.
It would not be fair to say that everyone loved the show, but that might be said for just about any stage show. Some strong language and explicit content do more than raise an eyebrow or two. We are brought out of "ho hum/nice show" to "What did he just say?" Our opinions form quickly and those directly affect how we might, or might not, respond to the remainder of the show.
One of our intentions at CoMMA is to try to be as objective as possible, and having viewed 90 percent of "Bee," I personally saw and heard less offensive material than I remember being on "All in the Family" 30 years ago or "Two and a Half Men" or "Sex in the City" today. We shouldn't mention the violence and the graphic horror of many of the cop shows on television.
Bottomline — we all have our feelings and beliefs and can make up our own minds as to what is suitable and what is not appropriate. Certainly no artists acts or sings lyrics with the intention to offend anyone.
In "Bee" the playwright's mission is to tell the story through the thoughts and deeds of these young people. As an audience, our interpretation will always be our final impression.
So, CoMMA will continue to offer much of what we might call the expected or standard performances. On occasion, we will stretch our wings a bit and go beyond that border.
New music, new plays and new and creative artists bring us many exciting and thought-provoking concepts and opportunities through live stage performance. We don't have to agree with them all, but it does provide us some balance.
It's like a friend said years ago after we attended what I thought to be a completely senseless drama … "Hey, Bill, it's just a play. This just means you'll like the next one better."
He was right.

Bill Wilson is the director of CoMMA.