"ALKY"

Presented by SSHS Drama Department
"to Make Impact on Teenage Drinking"

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

It was the "black and white" facts that were presented to students at SSHS on Thursday, and to SSHS Middle School students on Friday, when the Sulphur Springs High School Drama Department unveiled their autumn performance of "Alky," that addresses the problems associated with teenage drinking. "About any excuse that one could give for overindulging in alcohol, was thwarted," expressed one SSHS student, viewing the performance.

According to facts, 33% of all 6th graders have sampled beer or wine coolers and almost 10% have tried hard liquor. The average age of first experimentation with alcohol and other gateway drugs, is twelve years old.  20% of of 9th graders described themselves, in an interview, as "problem drinkers." And, there are 9 million alcoholics in this nation, with 3 million of them under the age of 18.

 

 

 

 

Alcohol use and abuse is the leading cause of death among adolescents. The earlier a person starts using alcohol, the more likely he or she will become dependent. And, adolescents can become addicted to alcohol faster than adults, normally within 1 to 2 years.

 

 

However, on the positive side, the earlier the progression of alcoholism that an individual is treated, the greater the chances are for recovery. An alcohol-dependent person can ALWAYS recover!

 

 

 

 

"You hear about liver and kidney damage and all that with
liquor. But, I think the organ it hurts the most is the heart.
Because after a while you don't care about anybody, not
even yourself!"

 

The performance is set at a  teenage party where alcohol is being served and deals with the many, many facets of alcohol consumption among teens. Student actors address the five stages of drunkeness.......happy, excited, confused, stupor, and coma, as they "act out" the behaviors that are prevalent among teens, when they consume alcohol.

 

 

 

"Erin was right. Alex wasn't breathing. And, he never
started breathing again. You CAN drink enough
to cause that!"

 

 

The problems of selling alcohol to minors is addressed, as well as the tragic consequences that are associated with overindulgence.......from rape, to alcohol poisoning, and ultimately death, if the problem is not controlled.

"Students watching the program have seemed to initially be laughing and joking about the message," expressed Dawn Magness, Sulphur Springs Drama Instructor and Director of the Play. "However, by the end of the play, most are 'sobered' by the message and touched by seeing either themselves or friends in the characters, on stage!"

 

 

 

 

"Our time and efforts are most worthwhile, if we just make our peers stop and think about the consequences," expressed a member of the cast. "And, if we manage to prevent just one of our friends from dying an untimely death, it's all been a project with genuine worth!"

 

 

 

The play was written by Jerome McDonough, and production rights were granted under a specially funded program by the I.E. Clark Publications, of Schulenburg, Texas.

 

"When you're my age you're suppose to go to
funerals for somebody's grandparents, not to
the funerals for your friends!"

 

Cast members include: John Harps, James Lambert, Luz Hernandez, Kameron Freelen, Jordan Nicholson, Morgan Lutz, Keegan Stalcup, Destiny Gustafson, Kelsey Brown, Brittney Wooley, Sarah Yosten, Chaz Hinkeldey, Cooper Welch, Sam Long, Anna Cruz, megan Arnold, Anissa Miles, Jillian Campbell, and Katlin Collins. Crew members include: Chelsea Riddle, Brianna Blades, Cecily Adams, Andy Ginn, Stephen Krammer, Patrick Collins, and Brydric Wright.

 

 

The message of the production is poignantly "brought home" when cast member Anna Cruz, moves to center stage and voices her loss of a personal friend to teenage drinking, near the end of the performance, and shows his picture to the audience.

 

 

Next week, the cast and crew will be taking their message to Saltillo and Sulphur Bluff School, on Tuesday. They will appear at North Hopkins on Thursday, and will deliver the performance at Como-Pickton and Cumby, on October 31st.

 

"We hope that our performance will have a definite impact
on students in our audience who may have encountered similar
situations involving illegal drugs or alcohol. We all need to make
positive choices when faced with situations that result in negative
outcomes. You have the power to change!"

~ Cast and Crew of "ALKY" ~

 

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