This is outrageous! How dare a musical address issues related to teh gay?

Everyone knows that Broadway, the heart and soul of musical production, is all about manly men being, well, manly. All those toned dancers in skin tight tights, stretching and leaping...and stretching.

I mean...really. If we're going to let homosexuals participate in musical theater, what's next? I ask you! Where will it all stop?

It brings to mind some of the very manly lyrics I recall from one of my favourite musical performances, set among manly men doing manly things:

BARBER:
I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay.
I sleep all night and I work all day.

MOUNTIES:
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
BARBER:
I cut down trees. I eat my lunch.
I go to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.
MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He eats his lunch.
He goes to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays he goes shoppin'
And has buttered scones for tea.
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.

BARBER:
I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.
MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He skips and jumps.
He likes to press wild flowers.
He puts on women's clothing
And hangs around in bars?!
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
BARBER:
I cut down trees. I wear high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra.
I wish I'd been a girlie,
Just like my dear Papa.
MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He wears high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra?!
[talking]
What's this? Wants to be a girlie?! Oh, My!
And I thought you were so rugged! Poofter!
[singing]
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
He's a lumberjack, and he's okaaaaay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.

"And I thought you were so rugged! Poofter!"

I've seen that bit many times, and never realized that the word 'Poofter' was used. I believe that's Canadian for 'one who farts'.

Sounds so much more decorous in 'Canadian', eh?

A poofter is not one who farts. Well...except insofar as that old joke about the three gay fellows sitting in on a bench.
The first one farts, and it makes a sound: "Pooof"
The three gay fellows all giggle.
The second one farts. Again: "Pooooof"
They giggle again.
The third farts: THTTHTHTHTHTHHTRIP!
The first two exclaim, "Ooooh! A virgin!"

Nevertheless, I believe the term originates in England and predates the contemporary lexicon of terms for flatulence.

Brings to mind the recently deceased English actor, Edward Woodward, whom Noel Coward blessed with the nickname "Fart in the bath," because, said Noel, when you say his name - Edward Woodward - it sounds like a fart in the bath.

No my friends...'poofter' in England means one is gay. Most school children use it as a slang!

Seriously? Falsettos has been around since the early 90s. I can't imagine this is the first high school to do it. Not to mention that there is a 13-yr old boy in the show, so every production necessarily involves at least one kid. I...guess I shouldn't be so surprised at these people freaking out about a show no one but theatre nerds has cared about since 1999.