It's addiction!

By Nadine Armstrong

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

It may be a hard sell, but Grade 11 drama students at Avon View High School are determined to send a message to their peers and families about addiction. They plan to use humor as the foundation for the April 10 production of Deliver Us from Temptation, and admit it will take all their creativity to pull it off.

Through the re-enactment of an addictions self-help group and a touch of song and dance, the “Dramantor XI” class says students who are already saturated with addictions information might just get a kick out of this heavy issue.

“I think its going to be tough to be serious about something we usually joke about,” said student Brittan Best, “but we need to take this seriously, it’s a serious matter.”

Dallas Moore chairs the West Hants Addiction Committee. She said that it's an issue that may hit close to home in more ways than one. Moore noted that although there may be drug problems for some students at the school, it could also be a family issue. “It may not even be the students themselves dealing with addiction; it may be something they face with parents or relatives.”

Spearheaded production

Moore spearheaded the production through annual funding from the Gambling Association, with half of the monies donated going toward the career access class to provide refreshments for the play and the rest toward this year’s graduation tea.

Moore said it was a great idea to have the drama students involved. “They are so smart,” she said of the committee’s luncheon with the class. “We all brainstormed together and some of the ideas these kids have come up with I never would have thought of.”

With input from local playwright Carol Peterson, drama teacher Jennifer Deslauriers has let the students take the lead. “It’s the basic six-scene play, but we all did a lot of research and discussion of the issues.

“We’ve spent a lot of time looking at different angles and how addictions affect people in different ways,” Deslauriers said. The students talked a lot about keeping it real.

“Do you really want to live your life like that?” is the question student Amelia Caldwell hopes they pose that day through reenactments of addiction scenarios.

German exchange student Jens Weber said, “we don't want to be like the teachers and parents. We want to show what could really happen.”

Composed a song

Larry Whittington composed a song, “That's addiction,” to the tune of the popular “That’s Amorie” as a satirical approach. “You can't force people, but if you show it like this, it really does send a message,” he said.

Although many in the class say they'll be accused of teenage, 'lameness' they're going ahead nonetheless. “I just hope they don't think it's lame and not show up because it's going to be really cool,” said Emily Campbell. Mike Crowell agreed.

“A lot of people will think it’s lame,” he said. “I would think the same if I wasn't doing this. As long as we do this the way we planned it should come out right.”

In fact, students and teacher open each class with 'circle time' where each students have the opportunity to express what they are feeling that day. It may be more positive, but all the same it closely mirrors the format of a self-help addiction group that inspired the scenes.

There will be an information session included with the play, where ex-boxer Ricky Anderson, a representative for Addiction Services, along with other representatives, will be on hand to answer questions and host a display.

Deliver Us from Temptation will hit the stage at Avon View High 7 p.m. April 10. Free will offerings welcome.