Between work and rehearsals, I'm having a hard time keeping up with this thread now.
Which is why "See Me", kills me. It's such a plaintive plea for someone, anyone, but especially his mother to see him as he is and accept that. When Claire sings about "where was the warning" on the heels of him begging her to open her eyes 2 minutes prior, it just encapsulates how purposefully oblivious some of these adults/parents can be. If they don't acknowledge it, it doesn't exist. "See Me" is the song that is the most personal to me in Bare. I had several conversations very much like the one between Peter and Claire with my own mother when I was younger, and still struggling to come out. Eventually, I just gave up, and never actually came out to her until I was 28. I never hid who I was from her, but it was never openly discussed, even though I had boyfriends that she met, and even a lover that I lived with for almost 3 years. She remained completely oblivious the entire time, always trying to set me up with very nice young women that she met (who figured out right away that I wasn't at all interested), and constantly asking when I was going to give her grandchildren. I finally sat her down and explained everything to her in no uncertain terms. There was much wailing and crying and beating of the breast that day, but, when she finally dried her eyes and took a deep breath, she went right back to pretending we had never had the conversation. Only now, she doesn't try playing matchmaker or ask about grandchildren. As you say, "if they don't acknowledge it, it doesn't exist."
And, on another topic, I am now completely enthralled with "At Swim, Two Boys." Not that I've been able to find much time to read it. I'm on page 365 now, and I hope I can finish it between the time I get off this afternoon and when I have to be at rehearsal tonight. Let me know when the off-topic discussion thread is started.
"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans are suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you." - Rita Mae Brown