Tutor's Songs Unpack Young Minds' Complexity

Milo Cramer's "School Pictures," a musical revue, is currently being performed at Manhattan's Cherry Lane Theater. This one-act show, directed by Morgan Green, offers a candid and often furious look at how young minds are shaped through the eyes of a private tutor. The performance features ten portraits of middle and high schoolers Cramer worked with, alongside lectures on "Othello" and the New York City school system.

Cramer, using a sprechgesang style and accompanied by a ukulele or toy piano, sings about fictionalized students facing challenges like academic struggles and deeply ingrained nihilism. He addresses the difficult task of reaching a 16-year-old libertarian who expresses hateful views, acknowledging his inability to fully divert such extreme ideologies. Cramer also critiques the broader educational landscape, recognizing his role within an inequitable system and the class dynamics that influence student experiences.

Premiered in Philadelphia in 2022 and performed at Playwrights Horizons in 2023, "School Pictures" retains its fresh, galvanizing energy. Cramer’s performance directs significant ire towards standardized testing, which he argues further advantages privileged children. His urgent message about fixing the system, delivered with palpable anger, underscores the immense impact of time on a child's development and the potential for damage over even short periods.