hear the message in
MEMS eighth-graders
hear the message in
‘Halfway There’
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY DAVE BENJAMIN Holding a hypodermic needle, a mime (Eric Carroll) tries to point Nick (Matthew Cade) in the wrong direction as the cast of the Periwinkle National Theatre performs Halfway There for students at the Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School.
MANALAPAN — A message on the dangers of substance abuse was delivered to pupils at a local school recently by the Periwinkle National Theatre.
The award-winning drug prevention drama Halfway There was performed at the Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School, Millhurst Road, by members of the theater troupe.
"It’s a great message on substance abuse that the kids really need to hear," said MEMS Principal Robert Williams. "I’d rather that the kids hear it here and be aware of everything that can occur out there, [vs.] having them come in contact with it and not being educated about all the negatives that occur.
"We try to do different things that are age appropriate and we try to reach the kids at their level. Hopefully, it will have an influence on the kids, and they will make the right decisions," he said.
At a drug rehabilitation center, Nick (Matthew Cade) tells Mandy (Rebecca Rian) she is different from all the other girls. The scene from Halfway There was performed at the Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School.
The show is about five teenagers from diverse backgrounds who come to terms with the underlying feelings that led to their substance abuse.
"They find themselves in a rehab center trying to take control of their lives," said Rafael Gonzalez Jr., the actor who portrays the part of Stan in the performance. "Through the process [which takes] a year, they go through trials and tribulations. [The play shows] how they take control of their lives without drugs.
"There are [situations] we show in the performance and there is a counselor that guides them through. In the end most of them graduate, but one of them doesn’t because she continues to make bad choices in life."
The aim of the show is to give adolescents a heads-up for what is to come in high school and in life, the actor said. There are a lot of choices to be made and sometimes all the right choices are not always made.
"But they’re our choices," said Gonzalez. "In high school, I know with me personally, I made a lot of bad choices. It took me going to jail and going to the Army to get my life together. I now have my degree in theater."
Also performing on stage were Rebecca Rian (Mandy); "Tony" Kenneth Carr Jr. (Greg); Stefan Hipley (Barry); Eric Carroll (Mime); Matthew Cade (Nick); and Alicia Velez (Karen), who is also the assistant stage manager.
"This powerful presentation impacts both teenage and adult audiences at an emotional level," said Sunna Rasch, executive director of the Periwinkle National Theatre. "Its strength is inherent in its dialogue and confrontation scenes, which are based upon actual writings from recovering teenagers."
The material used in the performance was gathered by Rasch during a year-long program of poetry writing workshops from teens at a treatment center. The material was subsequently published in a book, I Really Want to Feel Good About Myself, co-edited by Rasch and Lee Bennett Hopkins. Much of this material inspired the script of Halfway There.
The production aims to make a lasting impression on all who see it. It is filled with drama, humor, original music and teenage writings, as well as hope and inspiration.
"I think it’s a realistic portrayal," Williams said. "That’s important, because it makes the connection with the kids. It’s more real for them."
Williams said he wanted the youngsters to get the message about how drugs and alcohol can be fatal and about how there inappropriate use can ruin people’s lives.
A sampling of eighth-graders revealed they were inspired by the performance.
"It kind of inspired a lot of people," said Jason Dorfschneider, 14. "I know a lot of kids who are into themselves, and maybe it can show them they have a chance in the future."
Allie Cohen, 14, said taking note of the play’s message will help to steer some people in the right direction.
"Maybe it will change kids’ thoughts about taking [drugs] and how it might affect their future," Allie said.
The eighth-grader said she saw "real people up there"; people who had experienced drugs, how they thought about it and how they changed their lives for the better.
Allie said she thought some children experience little communication with their parents and feel their parents don’t care.
"It doesn’t happen at my home, but I’m sure that I have friends who experience that at home and that concerns them," she said, "but by believing in yourself and by having other friends around you, it can influence you to do the right thing."
Faye Linker, 14, said, "They were all going through the same thing and they really inspired me. Their feelings showed me how serious drugs are and how much it can change you."
Jason Goldheimer, 14, said he didn’t know of any students in particular who were involved with drugs, but said he was sure there must be some who are.
"Sometimes you think you want to do something wrong," Jason said. "Then you have to make a decision about what to do."
Williams said the play sends a strong message on substance abuse and said the pupils obviously got the same message.
"If they walked away with something, it was well worth it," said the principal. "This is the second year we have had this performance."
Geared toward altering teenagers’ perceptions of drug and alcohol abuse, Halfway There has been a featured event in more than 20 state and national conferences.
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy selected the production to be the conference opener for the Third U.S.-Mexico Bi-National Drug Demand Reduction Conference in Phoenix, Ariz.
Halfway There was also the featured event at the National Youth Crime Prevention Conference in Atlanta and in Denver. The performance received the highest evaluation of all special events at the National Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Conference in Washington, D.C.
On April 11, representatives of Periwinkle National Theatre accepted the Casey Award for National Organization of the Year presented by the Youth Crime Watch of America for "great efforts in educating youth through the arts on social issues," said Karen L. Stevens, director of public relations for Periwinkle National Theatre. "We are very proud of this award and have received many other awards and recognition for this powerful play that has reached over a million in the United States, the Virgin Islands, Guam and Egypt."
Support for the production has been received from the MetLife Foundation which made this presentation possible. For further information regarding the production by Periwinkle National Theatre, call 800-888-8271.