Pubdate: Mon, 27 Nov 2006
Source: North Thompson Star/Journal (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The North Thompson Star/Journal
Contact:  http://www.starjournal.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1231
Author: Joel Etkin

BSS STUDENTS GET "CRANKED" ABOUT METH

"With every breath I am smoking crystal meth' - was the  frenzied 
refrain spewing from the mouth of Stan, a.k.a.  "definition". The 
actor twisted and turned on the set  while the sound of hip-hop music 
was played recently at  Barriere Secondary School.

The sounds, the lighting and back drop - all created a  hard hitting 
insight into the rising epidemic of  crystal meth use by young people today.

Green Thumb Theatre presented the play 'Cranked' in  Barriere, 
primarily for students but any interested  people were also welcome to attend.

This is a play created by Playwright Michael P.  Northey. Using the 
spoken word and hip-hop, the  producers present a dramatic 
exploration of addiction  and today's drug culture.

The play has only one actor, Kyle Cameron as Stan. His  compelling 
performance is accentuated by DJ/Sound,  performed by Kyprios & 
Stylust, and presented by Joel  Etkin, a member of the troop.

Stan is a horror film buff and was a rising freestyle  D.J. when it 
all exploded into meth addiction.

In the performance he has locked himself into his mom's  basement as 
he prepares for an upcoming freestyle  competition without the 
crystal meth habit that  dominated his life previously; he is 
fighting to claw his way back to a normal existence.

The sound of the music, the shifting light from burning  amber to 
near darkness; the anguish in Stan's voice and  his agonized moves 
mesmerised the teen audience and was  reflected on their faces.

'Crank' is a form of meth that is a non-crystalline  powder prepared 
for blowing and breathing-in or  injection. It is highly addictive, 
cheaper than other  drugs and only a small amount needs to be used in 
order  to produce a long, intense high. Meth also damages  areas of 
the brain that control learning, memory, and  movement - bluntly 
stated, crystal meth causes  irreparable brain damage.

When asked "do you believe that watching the play has  stopped teens 
from using meth?" Kyle (Stan) said, "I  don't know, what I can hope 
for is that it makes them  think. To weigh the consequences of using 
. that is  all."

The group of four, Kyle Cameron, Joel Etkin DJ/sound,  and Elizabeth 
Steele stage manager, will perform  'Cranked' more than 100 times all 
over BC during the  next several weeks.

During a short question period one student asked Kyle,  "Did you ever 
try meth."

The actor quickly answered, "If I had done so, I would  not be here 
today with you."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine