on one family, is guaranteed to provide an evening of high emotion when it opens at City Hall on Thursday.

Described by the New York Times as an "almost hysterical wake-up call to the black community'', `Before It Hits Home' is being presented by Linda Paynter Productions for a three-night run.

"This is a play where we see a family torn apart because of their ignorance about the spread of the disease,'' says director Patricia Pogson, "it is very explicit about the symptoms of AIDS, what happens to the body, and the pain its patients endure. Having personally known three people who have died of AIDS, I think this play goes a long way in showing just what the physical and emotional pain is like. You feel that pain and you see the same ignorance that still surrounds this disease in Bermuda.'' Although the play by Cheryl L. West is set in the United States, producer Linda Paynter feels the message is universal -- and certainly applicable to Bermuda.

"The title of the play in a drama catalogue caught my eye and when I read it, I realised that this is just the kind of play we need right now. It has an important message and I hope that people will come, and really pay attention.'' She also feels the timing of the production is "exactly right'' since it fits in with the launch of the latest AIDS awareness campaign and also leads up to the annual World AIDS Day observation on December 1.

Shine Hayward, one of Bermuda's top musicians, makes his debut in a leading role that could hardly be more controversial.

He plays Wendal, a bi-sexual musician who discloses that he has contracted the AIDS virus. The play examines not only how this virtual sentence of death affects those nearest to him, but also the denial surrounding the whole subject of AIDS within the black community.

Says Shine Hayward: "They needed someone who could play the sax for this part, so they called me -- and I'm very honoured that they did.'' Previously, he has appeared in `Streak' for the West Indian Association and is keen to get back to acting.

"This role is a real challenge, working with Pat Pogson who has pulled me through the ringer -- but I'm enjoying it. I like the fact that the guy in the play is a musician. Yes, I do get to play a number, at the beginning of the play.'' He notes that there are some eerie similarities between his own life and the fictional family in the play.

"My name is Wendell, I play a guy called Wendal and we're both musicians. And in real life, I have a son called Bailey, which is the name of my father in the play. But that's as far as the autobiographical bit goes!'' As one of the Island's most popular musicians, Shine Hayward admits that the past few weeks have been hectic: "I'm fitting my music engagements around the play. They've taken a back seat for this, but the beat goes on!'' Ms Paynter warns that there is "some language'' in the play and suggests parental guidance.

"I think it is suitable for children of 11 and up because, unfortunately, that's the age many of them start having sex these days.'' Ms Pogson agrees, adding that she is encouraging her students at St. George's Secondary School to see the production.

"Everybody needs to see it, especially young people. When you see the number of teen pregnancies all over the Island, it's sad, because one of the things this play brings out is the importance of having a strong male presence in the household as boys grow up. But when these kids start having sex at 12 or 13, they don't have any idea what it means to have a real relationship. The likelihood of any relationship, begun when they're kids, surviving any length of time at all, is very remote. They don't understand commitment and that means that so many of our young people are being permanently damaged, psychologically, by this sort of casual sex -- quite apart from the dangers of AIDS.'' This play, she says, is ultimately a tragedy, "but with lots of laughs on the way.'' Besides directing, Patricia Pogson is taking on two acting roles in the play, those of Simone, who is Wendal's girlfriend, and Angel Peterson, `the angel of death.' Other well-known names are `Big Daddy' Gates, in the role of Wendal's father, and Connie Dey, who plays the doctor.

The emphasis for this production, however, says Ms Pogson, is on newcomers.

Shawnette Purnell plays Reba, the mother, with Lucinda Robinson as her best friend, Maybelle. I.O. Johnson also plays two parts, that of Wendal's brother, and the bi-sexual lover. Completing the cast are 12-year old Dimitrius Byrd and Caroline McNally as the nurse.

This will be "at least'' the eighth major play staged by Linda Paynter Productions. Ms Paynter, who formed her production company some 20 years ago, started out by mounting fashion shows.

`Before It Hits Home' runs at City Hall from October 28 through October 30 at 8.30 p.m. nightly. Patrons' tickets are $30, general admission $20, on sale now at the City Hall Box Office, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Tel. 292-2313.