On Friday, November 3, a few friends and I went to a musical called Edges that was put on by theater students at SDSU. I initially decided to go to the play because one of my friends, Gabriel Igtanloc, was one of the main actors in the production. Little did I know, this performance would speak to me in ways I had not even begun to anticipate.

The entire musical consisted of 16 songs that each represented a person who is on the edge of making a crucial life decision.

The first song of the play was a group number entitled “Become.” With the chorus of the song being “who am I, what am I here to be,” the entire storyline is about how the characters are not entirely comfortable in their own skin and are unsure of who they are.

“Boy With Dreams” is a song about a college student who has huge dreams for himself. He realizes that at this time in his life, he needs to finish college before he can fulfill these dreams, but is still determined to never lose the hope and desire he has for his future.

“Kaitlyn & Hailey” is a song about two sisters, a 9-year-old and a 14-year-old. The sisters’ relationship is jeopardized because Kaitlyn, the older sister, is not hanging out with her younger sister as much as she used to. Although frustrated with each other, the song ends in an embrace between the two sisters when they finally come to the shared realization that they want their “stupid, ugly sister back.”

“I Once Knew” is about a boy who addresses all of the powerful and influential women in his life— the most prominent one being someone who is currently on the brink of death. The song escalates as the boy takes all of the courage he has seen in these important women to gather the confidence to showcase his inner femininity in the form of drag.

“In Short” exposes the inner thoughts of a man who is out on a dinner date with his partner. He internally expresses his distaste for the women who he is supposed to love. This song represented the common tendency to stay in a relationship with someone that you simply do not love anymore.

“Perfect” is essentially a song about a girl who is changing herself immensely for her partner in order to try to keep a relationship afloat that is clearly not meant to be.

The ending song of Act I is called “Coasting.” “Coasting” is about how every person has their own deep internal problems but sometimes they think that no one truly cares. Therefore, instead of confiding in others they internalize these feelings and just simply coast through life, never letting others in.

After intermission, a song called “Man of My Dreams” was up next. This song is about a woman who is in love with a man who is gay. Despite her initial oblivion, she eventually catches on to the clues and accepts the fact that he will never be able to love her in the way that she needs.

“Be My Friend” refers to the common societal misconception that the more “friends” you have on Facebook, the more significant you are as a person. This song touches on the fact that, often times, online personalities are not accurate representations of who people are.

“I Hmm You” is about two people being on the edge of saying “I love you” to each other for the first time.

“Lying There” is a heartbreaking song sung by a woman who puts way too much into a relationship that gives nothing to her in return. At the end of the song, she realizes that she deserves better and needs someone who will actually be there for her.

“I Gotta Run” is about a girl who is scared of commitment. She always finds something wrong with everyone she thinks she loves and that loves her—thus self-impeding her ability to truly fall for anyone.

“Part of a Painting” is about a guy who used to be unsure about his feelings towards the girl he is with but soon comes to the realization that he wants to “become a part of her painting”.

“Pretty Sweet Day” depicts two friends’ feelings when their best friend, who used to hang out with them all the time, suddenly doesn’t anymore, due to the fact that he got a new girlfriend. The friends reminisce on the “better days” when the three of them hung out more frequently.

“Ready to be Loved” is told from the perspective of a woman who yearns to be in a relationship and experience true love, but life has not worked out in that way for her yet.

The last song of the entire production, “Like Breathing,” is a simple number in which the entire cast sings about how they know acknowledge the importance of self-acceptance and that living should be as easy as breathing. The song ties the entire production together by encompassing the entire moral of the storyline: to never be ashamed or afraid of who you are or who you want to become.

The writers of this musical took experiences that were personal to them or to one of their friends in order to create the depth behind each of the songs. The lyrics touched upon internal conflicts that are typically not spoken about yet commonly experienced. If you yourself don’t relate to one of the songs, the chances are that you can at least think of someone you know that does.

Beside the content of the musical itself, the actors and actresses were absolutely incredible. Watching my friend in particular up on stage, thriving in the place he so evidently belongs, I saw the true pulchritude of theater. It was beautiful to see such talent and passion from not only the person I knew, but from each and every one of these aspiring actors/actresses.