Sober thoughts

High school students aren’t pulling punches in a drama production against drunk driving.

St. Patrick High School's Grade 12 drama class, in partnership the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, has started its performance of Smashed. The play was written, edited, directed and produced by the students with some help by their drama teacher.

Danielle Pollari, 17, co-wrote and takes on the role of the angel Victoria in the play. Danielle wanted the play to touch on a number of themes, but focused primarily on drinking and driving as its main message.

"I wanted to make a difference and change people for the better," Pollari said. "You see (drinking and driving) a lot and it is just such a big issue. I want people to see this play so it can change them and people don’t have to get hurt."

Pollari said she hopes people will be surprised when they see the play. The production begins with a mock funeral. Later, members of the Thunder Bay Police Services come on stage with a paramedic in an effort to give the onstage car crash a more realistic feel.

Joseph "Joe" Willis, 16, plays Noah, the lead character in the play. Noah wakes to find himself dead at his own funeral. He is guided by two angels and is shown the consequences of his drunk driving.

"I was pretty excited to get into the role," Willis said. "I was really interested when we got the idea and I think Noah is a really cool character. He shows a different side to the affects of drinking and driving."

Willis found common ground with his character. Both he and the character he played have the temptation of giving into peer pressure at parties. He said that sometimes it wasn’t necessary to get into the scene because the emotion was already there.

Carrie Breitsprecher, a public health nurse with the health unit, said they became involved four months ago when the school approached them to work on a social issues play. Breitsprecher said the students chose the topics and just made sure all their facts were accurate.

"Everything that this class has done is absolutely amazing," Breitsprecher said. "They have managed to take these topics we work on a daily bases and turn them into a great production that affects everybody."

The first performance was on Monday and will have a repeat performance on Thursday and Friday at St. Patrick High School at 7 p.m.