METH PLAY TO MAKE DEBUT IN DCC

Fort Saskatchewan Record -- A play about the effects of crystal
methamphetamine is slated as one of the feature events at a day-long
drug and alcohol info session this month.

The play, which is written and directed by four teens from Fort High
School, wanted to create a script that show the wide effects of meth
beyond the user.

"I haven't personally seen what meth can do," says 17-year-old David
Gabert, one of four actors involved. "But there are people involved
with this play that have seen what impact the drug has on the user and
the people around them.

"And through this play we wanted to show that. We want to help the
community in our way."

The show is scheduled for an afternoon and evening performance at the
Shell Theatre in the Dow Centennial Centre on Oct. 22. It was
originally meant to be a 15-minute skit to be performed in schools.

"The concept has expanded," said Gabert.

The group got their start with help from the Boys and Girls Club and
expanded the skit to a full hour play.

"It was a hard story to write," admits Gabert. "But once we got
started and created all the characters, it just kind of wrote itself.
The ending is the one thing that has always been changing."

"We just weren't sure how to end it."

City Community Outreach Youth Worker, Sarah Ranson contacted the teens
and asked if they were interested in performing the show at the
session sponsored by AADAC.

As a result of the full-day Shell Theatre rental for the session, the
actors were rewarded the chance for a free second performance during
the evening .

"We weren't expecting to be in the theatre," said Gabert. "It happened
so suddenly."

The teens spent seven months working on the play, but put the project
into high gear during the last three months.

The evening play is slated for 7 p.m., in the DCC Shell Theatre. A
question and answer period is scheduled to follow the one-hour
performance. Tickets are free.