Pubdate: Sat, 23 Dec 2006
Source: Cowichan News Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Cowichan News Leader
Contact:  http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1314
Author: Peter Rusland

CRYSTAL METH REDEMPTION OFFERED BY LIGHT OF GRACE

Crystal meth will take you to hell and few live to tell about the trip.

One survivor is Grace (Veronica Smith) whose experience with the 
toxic drug was told with heartfelt honesty and home spun frankness in 
last week's Light of Grace presentation in the Cowichan Theatre.

Jonathan Couchman and his young cast presented their community 
project after three months rehearsal and probing why teens do meth 
and other drugs.

If Light of Grace -- a product of a $20,000 grant from the Union of 
B.C. Municipalities -- saves just one young life, it's money well spent.

Grace seems the perfect victim for insidious meth.

Under her dad Couchman's demanding thumb, Grace mourns the death of 
her mom, dancer Taryn Rentschler, while dealing with stressful 
bullying at school.

Enter friend Steph (Kristy Fielding) who uses meth to make her 
problems disappear.

One toke hooks many teens but almost kills Grace. She survives her 
overdose through a loving father, and help from Native elders such as 
Joey Charlie and his blanket-wrapping prayer ceremony.

More teachings from Charlie would have been welcome in this 
fast-paced, multi-media production that segues well from scene to scene.

Use of video for various scenes lent fresh dimensions to the show 
that lacked vocal volume and singing ability at times.

Still, Couchman and crew succeeded in molding raw talent into a frank 
message about a deadly drug and the forces that push teens into using it.

Light of Grace could be dedicated to all of Grace's friends who 
weren't as lucky as she is.

Multi-media drug play: 7.5 warnings out of 10.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman