Youth Theater to stage world premiere of ‘Cut’

Tom Titus

Audiences may cringe a bit as they view the world premiere to be

unveiled at the Laguna Playhouse next weekend.

It’s called “Cut,” based on the award-winning book by Patricia

McCormick, and it depicts a troubled teenage girl who cuts herself to

relieve inner frustrations and guilt. It is being staged by Joe

Lauderdale, director of the playhouse’s Youth Theater, who adapted

McCormick’s book for the stage.

While this may strike most people as bizarre subject matter,

McCormick said that it’s not all that uncommon an occurrence.

“Sadly, more than 3 million girls reported that they cut

themselves last year,” she said. “Most of them do so in secret and

many of them find that what starts out as an experiment or an impulse

ends up as a compulsion that quickly gets out of control.”

McCormick said she will attend next Friday’s opening performance.

“In my research for the book, I spent time with young women who

self-injure. Perhaps the most poignant thing that came out of those

interviews was their desperate desire for the adults in their lives

to see what they were doing to themselves.

“What seemed like elaborate efforts to cover up their injuries --

wearing turtlenecks in the summer, telling preposterous stories about

‘accidents’ they suffered -- were, in truth, painful and often

ineffective requests for help.”

Andrew Levander, clinical director of the self-injury program at

Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services, agreed.

“Self-injury is one of the fastest growing child and adolescent

behavioral problems in our country,” he said.

“People who self-injure are in need of consistent

relationship-oriented supportive therapeutic services to help meet

the myriad complex issues that surround the issue of self-injury,”

Levander said.

“Cut” was named “best book for young adults” by the American

Library Assn. in 2002. Its presentation at Laguna is the fourth in a

series of issue-oriented plays for teenagers and their parents.

Previously, the Youth Theater has presented “And Then They Came

for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank” (2001), “The Good Times

are Killing Me” (2002) and “The Wrestling Season” (2003).

“It’s understandable that people who haven’t been exposed to this

problem would be upset by it,” McCormick said. “But to avoid talking

about it -- or exploring it through fiction or drama -- only adds to

the shame and secrecy that surrounds this issue.”

The play is recommended for viewers age 13 and older. Following

each performance, there will be a question-and-answer session with

Lauderdale, the cast and an area therapist who is experienced in

working with self-injuring teens.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.