Tolerance - A Honeyed Approach
Terry Lavell stands out in a crowd for a couple of reasons. First, he's physically imposing - a 6'3" tall straw in a short glass, towering above fellow cast members in the recent Las Vegas run of "Hairspray." Second, like his character Seaweed, when faced with racism and prejudice, Terry chooses a path of positives and possibilities, in the process demonstrating the value of tolerance and the healing power of unity.
The amazing thing is not that there's a musical lampooning serious social issues but that audience members recognize the issues as being relevant today, almost half a century after the civil rights movement. Terry, who initially claimed no personal experience with prejudice or racism, eventually owned up to having viewed it firsthand. He said, "It still does exist, but my belief system doesn't get me involved in it. I look beyond it." That may be true, but yes, he did notice it. He chose instead, though, to be an example of an old southern expression: "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." The implication is that a soft, conciliatory approach is always more productive than an iron-fisted one. Fortunately for Terry, he didn't have to deal with the violence that characterized earlier generations, but he nevertheless experienced the ostracism of a small group of small-minded individuals.
The year was 1998. Terry, now in college and hoping to supplement his education, got a job teaching dance classes at an all-white studio. He took note of the fact that his mere presence raised a few eyebrows among parents. It was a tacit nod to prejudice. There was also the issue of separate black and white proms - "black and white" as in segregated, not as in a color-coordinated dress theme. And remember this was the 90's, not the 50's and 60's. He said, "I thought, 'What world am I in now?'" It was a world, he discovered, where prejudice - to any degree - hurts. "I still believe we struggle with these issues, whether black or white, work issues, whatever."
But Terry Lavell was not the type to be easily discouraged or dissuaded. He fell back on some useful lessons from his childhood, a honeyed approach that stemmed from the early encouragement of his parents. "I grew up in New Orleans and I grew up in the projects. I just thought, 'Are my surroundings going to dictate my future?'"
Of course, that's easier to say now that he's older. However, it's doubtful he felt that way as a grade-schooler who was teased mercilessly by his peers for dancing. In fact, he said, "I let everybody else decide my path instead of following my heart." Well not really; he just lacked confidence at that point. Then, in junior high school, everything changed. "I've always been the entertainer in my family. I always knew I'd be onstage." The incentive came in the form of validation of his talent. "Until then, I had only sung in church. I sang at a talent show and won."
So is it any surprise that the win catapulted him toward a career where, years later, he landed the role of Seaweed in "Hairspray," a musical with a strong message about tolerance? "A lot of Broadway shows don't teach you a lesson but this one has a very strong message." Interesting though, that where most everyone else sees "Hairspray" as a show about looking beyond differences, about overcoming prejudice and fulfilling a potential, Terry sees it differently.
He thinks the message is the positive effect that unconditional love can have on a life and he uses the main female character, Tracy Turnblad, as the example. She's a short, heavyset outsider who wants to be accepted just as she is, who wants to succeed as a dancer in a world of tall, svelte and popular teenagers. Luckily for her, she has support and it's not from her peer group. As Terry said, "Her parents know. They see something in her that's different than any other child." A lesson it seems, he experienced as well and sees as "Hairspray's" central theme. "It teaches so many different messages and it's special because it reminds me how my mother and father supported me unconditionally." It's when parents stand behind their children, he said, that the children are willing to take a chance, to step out of their comfort zone, to hop scotch two steps forward.
Terry, in typical positives and possibilities, sees "Hairspray" as another opportunity to teach a lesson. The musical is a honeyed approach to initiating change - one audience member at a time. "They leave with a chance to go out and do something different." Hopefully that includes unconditional love and tolerance of others - all others.