Page 8 -The Michigan Daily-Thursday, October 8, 1987 eavens ort hes confront suicide By Debra Chesnin "People don't realize that teen suicide is such an epidemic." It was with this thought in mind that Mark Taylor decided to form the group Students Against Suicide last August. SAS, a group of students and concerned adults, meets weekly to discuss problems and feelings about suicide. They will be sponsoring a play entitled Heaven's Just North of Here which will be performed by members of SAS at the Ann Arbor "Y" tomorrow night. The play is about a teenage girl who, after committing suicide, dis- covers the pain she has inflicted upon herself and everyone close to her by listening to their feelings as they pass her coffin. Ultimately, she concludes that it was because she cut off all lines of communication that she felt her only outlet tvas suicide. The play will be followed by a workshop/discussion conducted by Molly Hardy, the author of the play. The message of the play, ac- cording to Huron High School sophomore Jen Hawloy, is to "com- municate with the people around you. In the end, things really do work out." Hawloy, one of the students featured in the play, says that she considered suicide once before joining SAS. Not everyone in SAS, however, is involved because they have con- templated suicide. Some members of the group, such as Dan Howard, a senior at Huron High School who is also performing in the play, has "never thought about it (suicide). I'm here to help other people." The troupe says that they have had positive feedback from audience members who feel they have been. helped by the performance. Taylor, - . the only "adult" in the play said "there was a girl who saw the play at a church in Birmingham who, afterwards,, said that she had been planning to kill herself that night, but, because of our play, decided not to." Reasons such as this were in- centive for actor/director/playwright John-Michael Jones to direct Heav- en's Just North of Here. "I had a problem with that (suicide) as a teen and directing the play has helped me a lot," says Jones. "It has been a beautiful opportunity for cleansing and exorcising." Jones, a native of Ann Arbor who had been "trying his luck" in New York, decided to take a couple of years off to come to Ann Arbor and launch a one-act play that he had written. "I happened to be in the Frieze Building when I saw a sign up that said they needed a director (for Heaven's )." Although Jones admits that the people performing the play are "not professional actors or actresses," he adds that "they have a reservoir of experience which correlates to the material in the play." Whether the play is a dramatic masterpiece or not, Evie Gauthier, a staff psychologist at University Counselling Services and former supervisor of 76 Guide (student telephone counselling service), feels that seeing the play and participating in the workshop can be very ben- eficial. "Usually such plays are suc- cessful,.especially when there is a situation in which afterwards you can share your feelings and talk through a few of your emotions," says Gauthier. "By knowing that this is something that other people have gone through, it can make people who are contemplating sui- cide feel less isolated." HEAVEN'S JUST NORTH OF HERE will be performed tomorrow night at the Ann Arbor Y. Show- time is 7 p.m. with a discussion following; all are invited to attend. I I Read Ube ~Dai4 Cwt~iied 'Funny Thing ' happens 4 By Jennifer Kohn CAMPUS AUDITIONS for silAT Sunday, Oct. 11, 1:30 p.m. Michigan League Studio Call 973-3264 for Info j41V0 o,)~If A funny thing's happening at the Mendelssohn Theatre. Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Hap- pened on the Way to the Forum is opening tonight. Directed and Chor- eographed by Tim Millett, this is the University Musical Theater's opening show for 1987. This farsical classic, written in the burlesque tradition, combines the talent of the performers and an efficient energetic production. It is the story of the first forum, set in 200 B.C. in the streets of Rome. Millett is a ten year veteran of Broadway and television and is a lecturer and instructor in the dance department at the University's School of Music. "The variety of roles incorporates an ensemble cast of 18," he ex- plains. "There is no star. The technical simplicity (one set and few costume changes) draws attention to the training of the performers. They all have to sing, dance, and act." Burlesque humor is basic to American society drawing on its weakness for parody and caricature. There is certain irony to applying this American humor to a n otherwise historical context. "The audience can't help but laugh," he says. "The play's basic humor draws on the American way of thinking. This production of Sondheim's first play of both music and lyrics is a physical as well as intellectual treat." Millett 'is pleased to open the season for University Productions. He feels that the summer break has brought back fresh talent and has. rejuvenated interest in the work of his cast. This fresh, innovative production of a musical theater classic should prove to start the Ann Arbor theater season off with both hilarity and quality. A FUNNY THING HAP- PENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM will be performed at the Mendelssohn Theatre tonight through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Kross glitters (Continued from Page 7) D:What about Bon Jovi? H: Well he's got the same songwriting partner as Paul Stanley (of Kiss) has had for the last five years, so I won't bag on him: Some people hate him. He's just there. He has one of the worst images in rock. 111 give him that. D: A lot oftmetal bands wear spandex these days. Do you guys? H: I wear patch work ones this dude makes .me. I know they're embarrassing and silly and all but... It's like wearing nylon shorts when yotu run versus wearing some wretched junior high school, big, cotton things. They dry off quickly, your not wet and cold, and they stay on comfortable. D: So it's for practical reasons and not appearance? H: Yeah.Well the ones I have are really cool and colorful, though. D: So what is it about the '70s? H: It's sorta like what y'all grew up with, you know. And so it's what's put in your face and what you know comfortably and warm or something sad like that. It's all colorful and warm, I guess. D: But you didn't get into disco, huh? H: No that's not a security blanket. Maybe something stylish like solo Barry Gibb or something. D: What about The Brady Bunch? H: They're there, they're awesome! EvePlum is one of the most beautiful girls to walk the planet. This is true! I'd give my wisdom teeth for her! D: What can the Ann Arbor audience expect from your show? H: Kind of like sonically bowled over, you know? It's like, go there with all your inhibitions dropped. That's the jist of it. You gotta be free, peace lovin', and beautiful. Pedd Kross will play the Blind Pig tonight with the Detroit band the Colors. Cover is $6. Fatu Eric Clapton-Robert Cray' Etta James -Julian Lennon" Keith Richards "Linda Ronstadt Impact Jazz Dance AUDITIONS October 8 & 9 7-10:00 p.m. October 10 Michigan Union Ballroom both days are mandatory CALLBACKS 9-11:00 a.m. CCRB for more info call 763-1107 i