staged at the Warwick Secondary Theatre later this month.

"Extremities'', directed by Patricia Pogson, is based on a true story about a 55-year-old rape victim, written by well known playwright William Mastrosimone partly in an effort to empower women.

Producer Kevin Bean, who has just completed his first year at the Neighborhood Playhouse, a conservatory in New York, came up with the idea of performing the play while he was at school. He said he was attracted by the power of the play which has been performed off-Broadway and made into a movie. `Extremities' was also staged in Bermuda in 1992 by BMDS at Daylesford.

"It is powerful and demanding on the audience,'' Mr. Bean said. "I felt Bermuda was ready for a play like this. It is pertinent to Bermudians in 1996, especially in light of the problems of abuse and rape in Bermuda.'' In contrast to the true story, the character in the play, Marjorie, played by local Jabulani Repertory actress Lisa Young, is not actually raped. She is able to overpower the rapist, Raul (played by Mr. Bean), even though he is manipulative and intimidates her. When given the opportunity she ties him up, blindfolds and tortures him.

Mr. Bean said playing the Raul character has made the play one of the most intensive pieces he has ever done.

"I'm tied up and I can't see. I have to rely almost completely on my sense of smell,'' he explained. "For about three-quarters of the play I am in one spot and this is very challenging.'' Marjorie's roommates, Terry and Patricia are played by graduates of the Neighborhood Playhouse, Americans Chandra Ratner and Nicole Cerussi.

In the course of the play, they arrive home at different intervals and are won over by Raul who, because he has been stalking them, knows all about them. He is able to get the women fighting amongst themselves and continues his manipulation throughout the play.

Mr. Bean said that although the play focuses on the empowerment of women it is not just for women but for all people over 16.

"It is a must-see show that is mainly for enjoyment,'' Mr. Bean said, although he noted that the opening night will be censored so that everyone will be able to enjoy it.

June Augustus of the Physical Abuse Centre has been working alongside the producer.

" She enjoyed reading the play and endorsed it. She also felt it was prime time for a play to be like this to be seen (in Bermuda).'' In his research on rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault in Bermuda Mr.

Bean found that Physical Abuse Centre 1994 reports showed that 68 adults and 81 children had been abused with 353 calls for help.

"Also, the Bermuda Police Report for 1994 showed that of 21 rapes only one was pending before the courts and of 44 cases of sexual assault only eight were pending before the courts. This says a lot about the situation in Bermuda.'' he added.

Mr. Bean has been producing and directing for six years and has been acting since high school at Sandys Secondary. He has acted in many plays including "Strictly Matrimony'', "The Colored Museum'', "Fences'', and "God's Favourites''.

His most resent performance was in an off-Broadway production called "All God's Saints go to Heaven'' which ran for six weeks, in which he performed alongside famous gospel singer Luther Barnes who is known for such songs as `Rough Side of the Mountain'.

"I see this as the highlight of my career so far because I was in a truly professional environment in New York City,'' he said.

Mr. Bean, who wants to start an acting school in Bermuda some day, feels that most local actors act "off of God given talent'' because there were no schools here for them to attend. "I think that people who go to see plays take it for granted that the play comes from the natural ability of the actors as there are no schools to train them,'' he said. "I hope to open up an acting school some time in the future.'' The play will be performed on July 25, 26, 27 at Warwick Secondary School Theatre starting at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and part proceeds will go to the Physical Abuse Centre and to help Mr. Bean to return to school. He said that there is no funding for theatrical training on the Island.