Media
ELISSA BARNARD
Arts Reporter, FRINGE FEST REVIEWS, The Chronical Herald
Do the Right Thing – an anti-bullying musical play
Do the Right Thing is a lively show about kids standing up to bullying.
The 40-minute musical performance, written, directed and produced by Sandy Lund and Wendy MacGregor, intersperses a drama about bullies and ostracized kids with break dance, song and an interpreter (Kate MacDonald) who shifts around the audience and analyses the scenes.
Because the actors are teens their language and postures have the ring of truth in two parallel plots. There is a girl version of a gang of three led by a bully and one ostracized shy girl, and a boy version with, again, one bully, a kid that goes along, a reluctant kid and an ostracized "loser" boy.
The teasing escalates to a point where MacDonald stops the action and gets the audience to shout "Do the Right Thing!" to magically change the nasty dynamic and reverse a situation before it spirals out of control.
Do The Right Thing doesn't take bullying to the point of physical assault and suicide that hits the headlines. Instead it explains everyday cases of social alienation and bullying familiar experiences for all teens and pre-teens and suggests individuals should have the confidence to speak up and stop bullying either as active perpetrators or passive observers.
Do the Right Thing is an upbeat, positive show that tells kids they can and should do the right thing in social relations. They'll feel better and the world will be a better place.
“Touring Show Gives Kids a Voice"
National Post, August 2007
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