Stop Pressuring Me

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This full-length play is written for teenagers.

Television, peers, teachers, parents, pastors, music - how can teenagers make right choices when they feel bombarded with diverse solutions to the same situation.

Pressure is serious and can have detrimental effects. For example, did you know that suicide is the third leading cause of death for people ages 15-24 and that for youth ages 10-14, suicide increased 100% between 1980 to 1996? Furthermore, it is reported that nearly 5,000 people between 15-24 commit suicide every year. Shock waves were sent through agencies when the Center for Disease Control reported that the suicide rate increased most rapidly among black males between ages of 15-19 at a rate of 105%. And parents, the weapon of choice for 60% of suicides committed is a gun, often, the family’s gun. More people die from suicide every year than homicide.

Nikeä says "Just Do It." His friend tells him "it's just marijuana." Nancy Reagan says "Just Say No." The Pastor says "God can keep you if you want to be kept." Music says "It's your thang, do what you wanna do." The boyfriend tells her "if you love me you'd do it." Her body is screaming, "if you don't do something, I'm going to explode." Her parents are telling her "you better not." She's saying "Stop Pressuring Me."

Characters:

Reginald Steward - (A Strong Christian Father, he is tall, has a very strong voice)

Leslie Steward (40-year old mother of three. Married to Reginald. She is an accountant. She is very active in her church. She teaches the young adult Sunday School Class).

Jerome Steward (16-year old Christian son of Leslie & Reginald. He is intelligent, very active in his church and plays football and basketball for his school. He also is a volunteer peer counselor at his neighborhood community center. He has a great sense of humor)

Dennis Myers – (17 year-old teenage struggling with his need to fit in). Although he has a street mentality, he is shy, very withdrawn. He wears baggy pants, etc.

Candace Steward – (15 year-old daughter of Leslie & Reginald. She is tired of being told what to do and how to do it.)

Peaches Jones – (16 year old, very outgoing, cheerleader. She’s Leslie’s friend and has a crush on Jerome)

Pastor Donald Bridges – (The Steward’s Pastor)

Andre Sanders – 16 year-old football player who is dating Leslie. He’s arrogant.

Ms. Jones – Peaches mom and the teens Sunday School teacher.

Bill – 17 year-old senior. He plays basketball.

Tina – 16 year old student in the Sunday School class.

Minister – A young adult male who reads the scripture and prayer during church.

Teenager Male - Sunday School Class

Teenager Female #1 - Sunday School Class

Teenager Female #2 - Sunday School Class

Teenagers – for the Sunday School Class (ages 16-18)

Choir – sings during worship service. Also, to allow time if needed during scenes, you could allow the choir to sing an appropriate song.

Narrator – (need someone who can speak dramatically)

Narrator – Pressure, what is it? Simply put, I would describe it as being that outside force that overwhelms you to the point that it penetrates your being, and causes you to surrender either in thought, behavior, or attitude to that thing that you had at one time tried to resist.

What’s so amazing about pressure is that what overwhelms one, may be different for another. What is a small thing for me may be gigantic for you. As a teenager, pressure comes in numerous forms such as drugs, sex, the need to belong, and so forth.

But what is happening when teenagers give in to pressure? - To name a few, premarital sex, pregnancy, drug use, gangs, and sadly, suicide....

Leslie – (in the den standing near the sofa. Casually dressed in a skirt and blouse. She’s frustrated that Candace has not emerged from her room yet. Jerome is sitting on the sofa, thumbing through a magazine. Calling out to Candace)

Candace! (slight pause) Girl, you better come on here before you make me late!

Leslie - (places her hand on Candace’s forehead) You don’t have a fever, what’s wrong.

Leslie – (walks away from the sofa, looks at her watch) – All right you two. Candace go put some clothes on and let’s go, now!

Leslie: Well, after the other night you know that I’m not leaving you here by yourself, so if you can’t tell me what’s wrong with you, you need to go get dressed.

Candace – (dramatic, gesturing with hands) My head, my body, I’m just not feeling good. (plops back on the sofa)

Jerome – (standing and picking his Bible up off the coffee table – jokingly) – There isn’t anything wrong with her but that she needs deliverance (chuckles a little).

Leslie – Look, this is an important youth meeting. You know we are planning the calendar for the next six months.

Candace – Mom, no offence, but I don’t even like that church. I don’t care what we do for the next six months.

Leslie – (shakes her head – approaches Candace) Baby, I don’t know what has happened but we need to spend some time together. I don’t like the way you have been talking or acting. Tonight, we will have a talk. Do you understand?

Leslie – You can stay but no company – and I mean that. Your father is working late so he will be in around 7:00.

Jerome – Candace, if Dennis calls tell him that I went to church and will get up with him tomorrow.

Candace – About time! (picks up the phone and dials Peaches phone number) – Hello, is Peaches in? (sits on the sofa) Peaches, what are you doing tonight?

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Last modified: May 02, 2009