Letter: Time for high school plays a to get a film-style rating system

Editor,
Last Friday, I took some of my family to the Scotts Valley High School spring musical, “Legally Blonde” — including my 9-year-old daughter.
In the past years, we have enjoyed attending the spring musicals as a family — among the favorites were “Seussical” and “Once Upon a Mattress.”
I love to support the SVHS drama department in such plays. However, this year was a disappointingly different experience!
Awkward moments like my 9-year-old plugging her ears and closing her eyes when she wasn’t comfortable with the suggestive dance moves and outfits of the girls on stage — girls she knows and recognizes from our community — and the headline song that repeatedly takes the name of God in vain are only a handful to name.
Thankfully, many of the innuendos went over her head. And to be fair, there was some excellent acting and some great humor and life lessons to learn from. Yet still, it was uncomfortable to sit there with my 9-year-old.
My point? I have a problem with supporting this kind of play!
However, I have a solution.
Not everyone will be as sensitive to questionable material in “entertainment.” If we knew what to expect, we could make an educated choice about whether we want to support any given play.
Therefore, I suggest that the local high schools simply offer a rating system — like the MPAA rating system that is used in motion pictures — when advertising their drama productions.
This would eliminate awkward, disappointing family viewing. A rating system for this year’s spring musical would have given me 3 extra hours of relaxation at home on a Friday evening rather than an uncomfortable expense of $42.
Amy Barton, Santa Cruz