BY: LIZ ANDERSON/MURPHY NEWS SERVICE
“Just Before Sleep,” a new production from the Youth Performance Company, takes a look inside one family’s struggle as they move from their home to the streets, engaging with characters suffering from mental illness and discovering what the consequences are from losing everything.
The play comes as youth homelessness continues to increase in Minnesota.
About 1,151 youth are homeless in Minnesota, according to a 2012 report by Wilder Research. The Youth Performance Company is using the stage to change the perception of homeless youth.
About 41 percent of homeless youth in Minnesota are on a waiting list for housing, but while the rate of homelessness is slowing down, the report finds that almost 40,000 Minnesotans experience homelessness in a year.
Actors were expected to prepare for the powerful play. Sophie Kuether, acting as Tara Laporte, is only 11 years old and prepared for her role by turning to her friend.
“I read into [the play] and how it’s about homelessness, and my closest friend at school is homeless…getting into the shoes of someone who is homeless and living on the streets and sleeping on the streets was really hard to get into,” Kuether said.
The story is centered on Justin and Tara Laporte as they come to terms with losing their home, their father and their sense of security. The brother and sister endure extreme hardships, including a trip to the hospital for Tara where she is diagnosed with a stomach ulcer. After Justin begs the nurse and even offers him the jacket off his back, Tara is finally treated.
Statistics about the homeless population in the United States lined the walls and were written on torn off pieces of cardboard. Noah Ratgen, acting as Justin Laporte, said in an interview that he likes to be involved in social justice issues so he was immediately drawn to the play.
“I consider myself some sort of activist,” Ratgen said. “I like bringing up messages that are hard to talk about and I’ve always wanted to do that with theatre.”
Overtones of a broken society echo throughout the play as Karla, a homeless 16 year old girl who is schizophrenic, sings parts of “The Star-Spangled Banner” during scene changes. Kyra Richardson, who plays the part of Karla, said she enjoyed growing with her character and seeing where Karla would end up.
“Preparing for this, first of all it really just took me letting all of my emotions go and letting the outside world and everything that I know go,” Richardson said.
The YPC is a space for youth to learn acting, build skills and perform in plays, all while “developing, empowering, and advancing young artists.”
Director Julie Heaton has directed “Just Before Sleep” five times, and she says each time the actors come to prepare, they bring a fresh perspective and a new story.
If you go …
“Just Before Sleep” is running Jan. 29-Feb. 14 at the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center on 1900 Nicollet Ave. Tickets are $15.