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Chrys Weedon<\/strong> | Entertainment Editor<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSpeech and Debate\u201d follows three teens attending North Salem High School grappling with a sex scandal that is on the verge of imploding.<\/span><\/p>\n Madeline Weinstein, a junior theater major, attended the production. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe characters (Diwata, an over-the-top wannabe high school actress pregnant with an unwanted baby, Howie, an openly gay high school student who goes on chatrooms with other gay men in order to hook up, and Solomon, a headstrong closeted gay student who is a reporter for the school newspaper) find their way into each other’s lives through the Speech and Debate club,\u201d said Weinstein. Solomon, Diwata and Howie are brought together when Solomon, a tenacious reporter for the school newspaper, starts an investigation into the school\u2019s theater teacher, Mr. Healy.<\/span><\/p>\n After hearing of the mayor\u2019s inappropriate sexual contact with young men, Solomon starts building an article on the subject, much to the anger and chagrin of the school administration. Howie gets involved when he lets slip that he may have evidence against Mr. Healy. Diwata is reluctant to join in on the investigation, although she also has evidence against the teacher, and only agrees when the boys agree to become a part of the school\u2019s new speech and debate club. <\/span><\/p>\n The play then follows Diwata, Howie and Solomon\u2019s attempts to get the club funded by the school board, a process in which they have to prepare a mock debate presentation. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe three students invite a reporter for the Oregonian newspaper to write about their presentation for Speech and Debate, and instead of addressing the actual problems that the students wanted, the reporter instead degraded them and said that this is what high-schoolers do in order to separate themselves from adults, and plugged her own book as well,\u201d explained Weinstein.<\/span><\/p>\n The three students are all stubborn and strong-willed, and they bump heads often. Throughout the play, it is revealed that each of the speech and debate members have secrets of their own \u2014 secrets that could alter their lives in monumental ways. <\/span><\/p>\n This production follows tough topics such as sexual assault, sexual orientation and the lack of comprehensive sex education available to teenagers. \u201cSpeech and Debate\u201d analyzes the ways in which American society fails it\u2019s young people, refusing to speak to them frankly about substantial topics that affect their lives. The play tackles the important questions: is Oregon, and other states viewed as \u201cliberal,\u201d as open-minded as many people would like to believe? And are adults really keeping kid\u2019s best interests at heart?<\/span><\/p>\n Some moments were laughable, while other moments were gasp-worthy. Overall, the production captures the essence of what it\u2019s like to be a teenager: grappling with identity, personality and how they fit into the world \u2014 the subject matter is dark, but hauntingly realistic. The characters were familiar, with personalities that audience members may remember from their time in high <\/span>school.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI wasn’t so sure of what to expect when I went to see the show, so I came into the black box with an open mind,\u201d said Weinstein. The main message, in Weinstein\u2019s opinion, was: \u201cto not be afraid of speaking up and doing what’s right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n