This weekend, the regularly scheduled doldrums found in the lower-level of Xavier Hall will be interrupted with a controversial conversation starter-one completely run by students.

The Saint Louis University Theatre Department is putting on “Henry Flamethrowa,” a drama written by John Belluso and based on real-life events. The play debuted yesterday evening and will run through Saturday, April 5.

The play tells the story of 16-year-old Henry Rhamelower (freshman Chris Lyons), a young boy from a heavily religious family who spends his spare time writing letters to the devil. Henry’s younger sister Lilja, who has been in a coma for years due to a tragic accident in the family swimming pool, becomes the alleged source of miracles for many sick people across the area. Henry soon starts to believe that his father (senior Cale Haupert) is, in fact, engineering these so-called miracles, and tells a reporter (sophomore Lauren Hoeing) of his plans to disconnect Lilja’s breathing tubes.

“I think people are going to be very interested in [the play],” said James Canfield, assistant publicity manager for University Theatre. “It deals with a lot of modern issues, and I think people are going to think very critically about what it’s presenting.”

Chosen and directed by senior Jaime Lyn Bast as part of a working and learning process implemented and fully supported by the Theatre Department, Bast grew attached to the work she was presenting.

“I chose this play because of what it asks us to consider about religion and faith,” Bast said. “It leads to a re-evaluation of ourselves, that what we believe is what we believe, and not what someone told us to believe . I like theater that provokes thought.”

Despite issues centering around the value of life and the pros and cons associated with the extended use of life-support machinery, University Theatre Coordinator John Lamb calls the play “very even-handed.”

“We’re not preaching one way or another,” he said. “The decision [of what to believe] is left to each person seeing the show.”

“Henry Flamethrowa” is part of a learning opportunity for senior theater majors who have completed the necessary prerequisite directing courses offered by SLU.

“For anyone who is really considering pursuing directing as opposed to acting, [they have the opportunity to] put together a studio show during the spring,” Lamb said.

The show is fully supported and funded by the Theater

Department, but everything else-including choice of play, among other things-is up to the student director.

“Jaime was very passionate about this show,” Canfield said. “It was a challenging play to work as a director, but also something that would challenge audiences … [She] really thought it was the best choice.”

“Henry Flamethrowa” debuted yesterday, in the Studio Theatre on the lower level of Xavier Hall. The drama will continue its three-day run tonight and Saturday, April 5. Both shows will take place at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $5, and the runtime is approximately 90 minutes.