A kid having a kid doesn't do either kid any good.

Kids are becoming involved with S-E-X at a younger and younger age. This play opens with a reticent teacher trying to address a group of students about the "S" word, but it turns out the students know more than she does. Like Jerome McDonough's other Young Adult Awareness plays, this one grabs the audience's attention with comedy before it gets serious about the enormous problems involved in teenage sexuality and pregnancy. It has been performed by high schools, youth organizations, church groups, colleges, community theatres, and junior highs throughout the U. S., Canada, and foreign countries.

This is a hard-hitting, face-the-facts play designed for high school and college actors to perform for audiences 12 or 13 years old and up. The play is frank and realistic, yet there is no profanity and no street language, but DOLLS does not back off in its message. It does not turn off the very kids who ought to listen; they listen.

The style of the play is that of its predecessors—JUVIE and ADDICT—a face-to-face telling of young people's stories to young people by young people. The stories are entirely fictional but are based on the facts of the subject matter. With JUVIE and ADDICT, we encouraged the availability of on-site support people at each performance of the show. This may be even more important with DOLLS. A combination of parents, health-care professionals, church leaders, educators—a cross-section of concerned, open-minded adults—is needed. Kids' questions should be answered.

"I chose the play because it's the only one I've found that deals with teen pregnancy and sex without being crude."—Todd Secondary School, Prince George, B.C., Canada. "People were moved by this wonderful play."—Reba A. Kooaroon, International School, Bangkok, Thailand. "DOLLS has a very powerful and moving dialog."— National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting, recommending the play. "DOLLS was a great success, and we look forward to this year's production...we pray it will be as successful as last year."—Fr. Steven T. Williams McGill, Toolen H. S., Mobile, Ala. "Teen-age pregnancy is a tragedy—but an avoidable one. The Sumter Little Theatre did the play because they wanted other teens to hear what it has to say...that it's easy for a teenager to be pulled under by peers. Who should see the play? Every student from sixth grade on—and their parents."—Sumter, S. C.

Other McDonough Young Adult plays: Alky, Blues, Carriers, Dolls, 'Hoods, Splits, Turners, Users

See also: Awareness Plays for Young Adults