He came to watch the play with his brother. The play was billed as a comedy/drama about a typical group of youngsters out to have a good time, drugs, sex and rock and roll. However despite the banter, the music and dancing the play has a serious message about the failure of friends and family to recognise when someone is suicidal. Half way through the play there is a very disturbing and realistic suicide. His brother rushes out to the toilet and throws up. Whilst waiting out side the toilet for his brother a young women starts talking to him. She asks if the friend being sick is a policeman or paramedic because the play has that affect on people who have attended suicides. The way she explains the thinking being the need to make the scene so realist leads him to think she is one of the actors or some one who must have experienced a family member or close friend who has committed suicide. But then she starts referring to his own suicidal thoughts, thoughts he has never spoken about to anyone.
She tells him that when ever and where ever this play is performed she has to attend. But that she has never spoken to anyone attending a performance before. “ I needed to explain to you that I wasn’t unhappy but I wasn’t happy, the problem was I didn’t feel anything but I wish I had told you.” At which point his brother appears only to rush back into the toilet. He follows him in. When they come out the young woman has gone.
Blair Mcpherson former director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
