Out of the Mouths of Babes
By: Keith Dykes, CCht, Hypnotherapy and NLP Trainer

Something amazing is happening in Roswell and it is coming from our children. Crabapple Middle School’s Drama Department is taking a play to The International Thespian Conference in June. The school is the only Middle School in the Country to be invited to the Sr. level conference. The play titled Running Upstream written by Bryan McCampbell is based on a true story about a boy with disabilities, or so we think.

As you enter the world of young David you begin to understand the message of unconditional love and not judging a book by its cover. The theme continues and you begin to see how judgment can be seen from all sides and angles. David takes his message very seriously and wants to be seen as a normal boy. He encourages his brother to allow him to enter his first year of high school without his protective amour shielding him, thus allowing David to not be mainstreamed, as the text calls it. Along the way, you see how judgment clouds the views of everyone in the play, even David. The lesson is spoken throughout its run on the stage, but what lesson or how many is what I continually asked myself. There are so many messages and lessons wrapped into this play and it is mastered by the performers and their close stage family.

This brilliantly written play has a wonderful spiritual undercurrent without being blatant, as this is not the author’s intention. I cannot help but think this play is a spiritual message to us all about our perspective roles as citizens of this world. It is simply some of the best live theatre I have seen in my 25 years as an actor and singer. There are moments in the silence of the room when it is permeated with unconditional love. You can almost hear the voices of the angels speaking through these kids and their drama teacher.

In today’s times, it is important that the public receive this message. Good performances of any nature allow us the opportunity to see into different lives and for a few minutes forget our troubles; live theatre takes that even further by allowing us to see into the souls of the characters. Being based on a true story only makes this play that much more compelling to the audience (“Inspirational” and “Timeless” are words that come to mind.) Running Upstream goes beyond that and is a shining light in our world.
There will be a performance at Roswell High School Friday May 19, 2006 at 7pm; the house opens at 6:45pm. This is a special presentation for the local public and a fundraiser to assist the kids in going to the International Conference. Tickets are $10.00. Reservations can be made via telephone at 770-518-7821; ask for Leigh Tompros.

If you are unable to attend the performance, but would like to support these kids by making a donation, please make a check out to Crabapple Middle School and in the memo section write Running Upstream Donation. Mail Donations to Sara Stoffle, Crabapple Middle School, 10700 Crabapple Road Roswell, GA 30075.

Thank you for your support in helping this wonderful message to be delivered on an International Stage.
Keith Dykes, CCht is an NLP and Hypnosis Trainer in Roswell, GA, and may be reached at 678-860-1348.