“The AIDS Project” – Press and Reviews.
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Richard Brimblecombe and Paul Davis as two of Cilla’s Blind Date options,
from the first production of “The AIDS Project”.
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Humour getting deadly message of AIDS across Local colleges are being shown an award
winning play which uses a series of humorous sketches to put across a message
about a deadly serious subject. The Aids
Project was written by Guildford-based Jason Orbaum and is specifically aimed
at young people who are at a sexually active age. The play aims
to explode the myths surrounding the disease and to offer sound preventative
advice dressed up in an easily understood and watchable fashion. One of the
sketches is based on the TV show Blind Date.
In the play a young woman is asked to choose between a stereotypical
gay, a drug user and a ‘straight’man. “Well Tracey”
says Cilla, “You chose Kevin from Dagenham and surprise, surprise, he’s the
one who’s got AIDS.” Its message is
that it is not just the gay and drug using community who are at risk. Other sketches
deal with safe sex. One is a
hilarious spoof on the safety talk air stewardesses give before
take-off. Instead of
demonstrating how to put on a lifejacket, the cast show how to put on a
condom. As well as the
safety message, some aspects of male behaviour get short shrift from the
cast: “He’s a great lover, he gets a
lot of practice with other women”. Despite all
its humour most of the sketches are punctuated with a serious message. One is a chilling warning for the future
and a plea to re-think attitudes to AIDS sufferers. “In the next
five years, everyone will know someone with AIDS. We can’t even cope with the disabled, how
will we cope with HIV? Are you going
to see the person or see the disease?” When the show
was first shown in Gary Noakes, Gazette, Testimonials: “Our Sixth
From girls not only enjoyed the play immensely, but also gained much from
it. Their gain was not confined to
important data presented in a most digestible form; attitudes and feelings were also explored
in a very deep and meaningful way. The Aids
Project follows the new frankness which has accompanied the aids problem, but
the play’s frankness was never offensive, and was always acceptable and in
good taste. Both our
students and I were struck by the very professional performance. The male and female cast were arresting
and attractive. They combined
excellently, and all seemed able to switch quickly from one totally
convincing character to another.
Small companies of this type do not usually show such a high level of
polish and professionalism.” Howard Barlow, “…..very
impressed by the play…..both educational and entertaining.” Alice O’Connor, NW Surrey District Health Education
Service, Weybridge. December 1989. “I thought
both the acting, content, and production was just marvellous. It would, I feel, attract the young people
and create a real learning situation in a humorous and easy manner… well done
for the innovation of a great idea…” Suzanne Taylor, Specialist Nurse HIV/AIDS, “I would
recommend it without reservation to any school, particularly for the use of
Sixth Formers and/or senior pupils.” DHJ Rebbit, Headmaster, December 1989. -------------------------------------------------------------- For
a full script e-mail scripts@jasonorbaum.co.uk |
