Everyday Heroes

After-play Forum

by Laurie Brooks

At the end of the play the curtain call is held until the end of the forum. Instead, after the blackout, the audience is greeted by the facilitator, who introduces him/herself and invites the audience to participate in the Forum.

Agree and Disagree Statements:

Facilitator: I’d like to read you a series of statements. As I read each statement, stand up if you agree to show your support or remain seated in protest.

• It was not Win and Kurt’s responsibility to take care of their mother.

• It is okay to lie to protect a family member.

• Win is right when he says, “A lie doesn’t count if it doesn’t hurt anybody.”

• Kurt Lawrence is a good brother to Win.

• When something is on the news it is automatically true.

• Jo is right when she says, “men have this unwritten rule, thou shalt not talk.”

• Win Lawrence was not really a hero.

• The truth is more important than loyalty.
  
• Anyone can be a hero.

• Anyone can be an everyday hero.

Exploration: Lies, deceptions, half-truths and denial

Facilitator: There are over fifty lies told in Everyday Heroes – deceptions, half-truths and denial, like when someone can’t admit the truth to themselves, maybe because it’s too painful. What are some of the lies you remember from the play?

Audience responds.

Facilitator: Who was in denial in the play? What were they in denial about?

Audience responds.

Facilitator: Do you think that in this play one lie led to another? Which lie do you think caused the most damage?

Audience responds.

Facilitator: Let’s ask the boys to join us.

Kurt and Win enter. They wear different clothes so it is clear they have begun their new life and we are looking back on the past.

Facilitator: How are you doing?

Boys respond with brief specifics of their new life.

Facilitator: Kurt, we’ve been talking about your experiences during the time of the fire, and I’m wondering. If you don’t mind sharing with us, looking back on what happened, if you could take back one lie, which one would it be?

Kurt responds.

Facilitator: How about you, Win? Which lie would you take back?

Win responds.

Reflection: Unexpected Mentors

Facilitator: Sometimes random people take an interest in someone else and that changes their life. Like Jo did with Kurt and Win. I wonder how many of you here tonight have known someone whose caring changed your life, maybe someone outside the family who didn’t have to care? Raise your hand if you’ve had that experience. That’s a lot. Kurt and Win, will you share with us how Jo changed your lives?

Kurt and Win each respond with different specifics.

Facilitator: (To the audience.) I’d like to hear from you about the person who has made a difference in your life. I wish we had time to hear all your stories, but just give us a sentence or a phrase about your mentor and what that person did for you. You don’t have to raise your hands, just stand if you’d like to share and take turns. Start your sentence with, “I learned or I realized…”

Facilitator steps back and allows the audience to respond on their own.

Facilitator: Thank you for coming and thank you for sharing…

Win Interrupts.

Win: Can I say something?

Facilitator: Sure. Go ahead.

Win: My mom told me to watch for my chance when it comes sliding down the highway. I’m just hoping that if you get a chance to help someone out – maybe be a mentor to someone – you’ll grab onto that chance and take it before it slips away.

Kurt joins his brother to show his support.

Facilitator: Thank you for coming and thanks for being an everyday hero. Now give yourselves and the entire cast of Everyday Heroes a big hand.

Actors take their curtain call.

End Forum.