Actors in Recovery Share Dramatic Stories @ RMHS

The stage of the Performing Arts Center

was filled with powerful voices yesterday at Reading Memorial High School (RMHS).  The theater troupe known as "Improbable Players" performed two plays for students on the topic of substance abuse.

This event was sponsored by RCASA to offer students and faculty an opportunity to explore the themes of peer pressure, dating violence, substance abuse, personal growth and decision-making through a theatrical lens.

The Improbable Players were founded in 1984.  According to the troupe "we call ourselves an improbable group of young actors, due to our backgrounds and what we have been through.  Our goal is to spread the word of hope and recovery from substance abuse. We do not portray drug use in a glamourous light. We show the destruction, pain and loss that each of the players lives with today."

The actors began the day with a show for juniors and seniors.  The first performance was called "Hitting Rock Bottom".  This play focused on "an ordinary couple and how they become enmeshed in an abusive relationship greatly impacted by alcohol abuse." The show opened with a humourous take on the typical approach to substance abuse prevention and how the players were going to take the topic in a different direction. 

Dennis, Robin, Adam and Chris of the players shared that they were addict/alcoholics in recovery. Their disclosure caught the audience's attention and set the stage for a short skit which demonstrated the cycle of addiction through the use of drama masks. 

The actors then launched the story of a couple that falls in love but is pulled apart due to alcohol and dating abuse. 

Following the play, the actors shared more about their personal struggles with substance abuse.  The actors have been in recovery from 3-10 years. 

They took questions from the audience.  Here a few excerpts...

Q. Why did you think alcohol and drugs would make life easier?

 A. From our experience, we learned the hard way when using substances to cope with life.  It was tempting, it allowed me to function in social situations.  It was a short term solution because after I used, I still had to deal with the problem.  It just made life harder in the end.

Q. What were some of the big changes in your life once you became sober?

A. I grew up, I learned to pay bills, go to a job everyday, be a good son and a good friend. I learned that this is a disease of selfishness because your life revolves around using and getting it.  Now that I am in recovery, I can be a good partner, have a better relationship with my mother and be there for the people that I love...

Q. Where do you draw the line between recreational use and self-medication to deal with problems? 

A. There are red flags that use becomes abuse.  These include blackouts, obsession about getting substances, lying about use, and making promises to stop but being unable to control use. For us, being an addict, there is no difference, 1 drink is too many and 100 is not enough.

Q. What do you think about the role of pop culture related to alcohol and drugs?

A. As a sober person, I feel like much of our culture is set up for drinking. Bars are open late but cafes close at 9 p.m. When I first began using, I definately fell for messaging in movies and music in my teens. Now I see things differently.

Q. What drugs did you use?

A. I do not like to describe every drug I used because I feel like it ranks them and in essence, they are all dangerous.  I will say that marijuana was the most destructive for me because I used it for over a decade.  It nurtured a life of mediocrity. When I stopped using, I was able to see life in a new way.

Following each play, students had an additional 20-25 minutes in their classes to debrief on what they experienced.  Mrs. Nelson, Ms. Fiorello, and Mr. Zaya, Wellness Educators invited RCASA staff to lead one of these sessions.  Students shared the following... 

Q. What reasonated with you?

A. That there might be people going through the same experience but keep it hidden from each other.

Q. What did you learn about their relationship? Was it healthy or unhealthy?

A. You could see how the boyfriend could be sweet and then get so angry and controlling.  You could see it progress from a good thing to a really unhealthy relationship and how he tried to take away his girlfriend's interests and good friends.

Q. What was the most interesting thing you learned today?

A. I liked hearing their real stories and how they got into recovery.  It felt more honest because they have been through it.

Running on E

The second performance of the day was shown to freshman and sophmores and focused on 4 friends in the last year of high school.  As the year progresses, we see 2 of the 4 succumb to a life focused on substance abuse. 

Throughout the play, we see how substance abuse changes their friendships, compromises their goals, and destroys their bodies.  One of the characters, supported by the offer of help from friends, seeks treatment and returns to finish high school.  She describes the feeling of "running on empty" as a result of her substance abuse.

The actors talked with students after the performance and answered their personal questions.  The troupe also stressed the importance of resources in their school and in the community including Al-Anon.

What did the faculty think about the day? According to a group of teachers, they thought the troupe did a great job of getting some important material out into the open.  We hope that students will see that our school wants to be there for our students.  

Special thanks to Principal Freedman for welcoming this educational opportnity and to all of the faculty for embracing the players and their message. RCASA will sponsor the players to visit both of the middle schools and perform for the community at large later this spring.  Stay tuned for more info.