Touring Governor's School play pushes back on bullying

Nobody in Mrs. Kipp's biology class bothers to call Ayden by his real name. Monikers like "bug boy," "freak" and "loser" are funnier to the students who taunt the insect-loving teen each school day.

To Ayden, the hurtful words are reasons to run away, hoping never to return to school.

Ayden and his classmates are characters in "The Unknown Variable," a play written and performed by local high school students who attend the Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk. The production is touring Hampton Roads middle schools through April with the help of a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Churchland Middle School was the first stop for the tour this year.

The project aims to raise awareness about bullying.

Playwright Nicholas Biecker, who lives in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake, developed the plot from ideas shared in last year's writing class at the Governor's School.

Biecker, who graduated last year and now attends the Virginia Beach campus of Tidewater Community College, said having students perform the script is more powerful because "they have gone through this. They are able to connect to it."

Churchland High senior Jasmine Leeward is a voice actor in the production and plays the role of "Mrs. Kipp," the teacher. Leeward said she too has been bullied but hasn't let it get the best of her. The long rehearsals and busy touring schedule are worthwhile because the play sheds light on the bullying problem.

"I always like to be a part of something that'll change people's minds and that'll influence them in some way," she said.

"I think this is a very inspirational play that can bring about change."

In the production, Ayden thinks he's finally made a friend in Sam, a bully who becomes his partner on a science assignment.

When they finish, Sam betrays Ayden to appear cool to other students, and the bullying continues. Classmates post insults like "stink bug" on his Facebook page. In the hallway, students laugh and poke fun at Ayden for toting around ant farms, often using gay slurs.

Governor's School staff and cast said the language is strong to mimic the reality of bullying and to teach about the inappropriateness of name-calling.

During name-calling scenes at a recent Suffolk performance, laughter erupted from the audience.

"It was like a funny name, but it wasn't funny that he was getting called that," seventh-grader Imani Garde said.

"It's not nice to pick on people because it could cause someone to hurt themselves."

After relentless teasing, the character Ayden seeks help, but his mom is too busy. And the teacher doesn't pay attention to the students' actions.

Justin Libbey, who plays Ayden, said some teachers ignore name-calling and should get more involved in stopping bullying.

"They don't want to spend the time or effort that it would take to stop something like that," the King's Fork High sophomore said. "They think it's just words."

Students should have allies, Justin said, and be confident in themselves.

"It's not the easiest thing to do, but just let it roll off your shoulders," he said about name-calling.

"You can't let everyone get to you."

That's hard to do when trying to fit in with cliques, said actress Caitlin Roberts, whose character watches and laughs when Ayden is bullied.

Roberts, a sophomore at Cox High said, "I was also scared of being different and standing up.... You just want to be popular."

At each tour stop, the Governor's School staff gives out study guides about the dangers of bullying and who to contact for help.

A counselor is on hand to talk to students who need help or advice. Cast members encourage the audience to speak up for others who are being bullied.

During a question-and-answer session after the Suffolk performance, a student asked the cast why it took so long for one of Ayden's classmates to speak up.

First Colonial High sophomore Kaitlin Clabbers - who plays Jen, the student who eventually speaks out against the bullying - said her character has "seen so much of it that it kind of builds up and she's just like 'I'm not going to do this anymore. I'm not going to watch this kid get hurt over and over again.' "

After seeing the play, actors hope students will be motivated to speak up in real-life situations, too.

Cherise M. Newsome, 446-2794, cherise.newsome@pilotonline.com