I Need Advice on Ecstasy for a Role in a Play

[defying.gravity]

I have recently been cast in a play and throughout, my character gets high on ecstasy. Now, I have never been high on anything (well, beside sugar) so I am not exactly sure how to act like someone who is high on X. I've never been around anyone high on X either. If anyone has any advice, that would be great.

But don't incriminate yourself.... :|

[thiziswhatiam]

well first this is what swim act like on E witch is the best drug he HAS AND WILL EVER DO.

1.feel your self chest face ect.
2.grind jaw.
3.twitch eyes (somewhat roll eyes alot)
4.chew gum and act like you cant fight your jaw from closing
5.pupils get large
6.dance like you want and not care what anyonw cares.
7. talk alot.
8.hit on anygirl you want and not give a fuzz.
9.remmeber its not a dirty high like bud its a clean high like E
10.Swim loves E! Thizz or die!
goodluck and swiy should try some E when you have sometime.

Reputation Comments on this post:

try e when you have sometime? not good advise to somebody who has never been high on anything.

[Nacumen]

I'd say you have a pretty important role; The playwright most likely wanted your character to express the feelings of ecstasy (the chemical name being Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA) because he/she wanted more light to be shed on the true effects of this significant and profound substance.

MDMA is a beautiful, awe-inspiring and life-changing drug. Its effects are described on several internet sites, but really, without personal experience of the substance, it would be, in my opinion, next to impossible to mimic its effects. Its effects would differ greatly based on where the user is, whom he or she is with, how old the user is, how the user is feeling in his or her day to day life, etc. I doubt whether enough research exists which could give someone information sufficient enough on how someone would react under the influence of MDMA under a given general circumstance.

MDMA is a very detailed and complicated substance worthy of much research and study. Let me list off some adjectives which will, at least in short, attempt to describe MDMA's positive effects: empathogenic, euphoric, physically stimulating, tactilely pleasurable, musically appealing - like nothing you could've ever thought possible.

But there are also many negative side-effects to ecstasy. Many users report hangovers after takeing the drug which last for up to a week afterward. However, there are many pharmaceutical drugs available to largely counteract these effects, including anti-oxidants used to counteract possible neurotoxicity and other side-effects caused by MDMA following a 'roll' (aka, ecstasy experience), and also SSRI's and related compounds, such as 5-HTP used in the days following an MDMA experience to counteract possible depression. In addition, MDMA is a drug that must be taken with care. Care should be taken not to drink too little or too much water, as both have led to deaths with concurrent ecstasy use. Most rules of thumb for 'safe' general stimulant use apply to MDMA, and because these are listed in detail elsewhere on the web, I wont go into them.

There are of course the visible mannerisms and conditions exhibited by an ecstasy user. The poster above (thiziswhatiam) gives a good list of what some of these are.

To conclude, to be able to give the best performance possible, SWIM would recommend that the actor or actress first have experience with the substance. Unfortunately, acquiring pure MDMA is not as easy as it used to be. Because street sales of ecstasy operate in the black market, they are outside of the jurisdiction of government regulations, meaning, a pill sold as ecstasy may not contain MDMA at all, but an alphabet-soup of potentially harmful drugs. What is sold on the streets as 'ecstasy' today is usually at best watered down MDMA, and at worst another substance entirely. But perhaps if SWIY has a trusted friend who could source SWIY some pristine molly, all is not yet lost.

[defying.gravity]

Thanks, this is all really great. There is a big scene where I wake up (with someone else) after a night of doing X. How would I act the "X Hangover"?

[Bajeda]

Not everyone gets a hangover. You could portray it as fairly normal, yet somewhat reserved. Or if you want more of a hangover depiction I think a lethargic and pensive yet somewhat dazed persona would be good.

Also, just to note on the waking up with someone else part, ecstasy is a love drug but it isn't a very sexual drug, and you aren't likely to go and have sex with someone (more so if you don't know them) while rolling.

[Nagognog2]

Just act slow and tired. Like you hadn't slept due to insomnia and were running on waves of adrenaline.

[FrankenChrist]

You might wake up a bit dulled.
Look in the mirror to check your pupils and perhaps see your face could look slightly swollen. It is your strained jaw muscles.

If you haven't taken care of yourself and hydrated throughout the night, you will have a throbbing dehydration headache and a sandpaper throat.
Many of your muscles may hurt, especially your leg and your back muscles.

Your brain will feel as if it isn't capable of much hard thinking. Short term memory may be affected.

The afterglow: in the few days after, you might feel good but you will want to take it easy, chill for a while.

Then there may be one day after the afterglow where you are heavily down.

The day after you're fine.

The last three fases may differ in length for different individuals.

Some of the mentioned effects can be ascribed to physical and mental exhaustion
and lack of salts, water and nutrients in your body, not alone to the substance.

[Nacumen]

Originally Posted by FrankenChrist

You might wake up a bit dulled.
Look in the mirror to check your pupils and perhaps see your face could look slightly swollen. It is your strained jaw muscles.

If you haven't taken care of yourself and hydrated throughout the night, you will have a throbbing dehydration headache and a sandpaper throat.
Many of your muscles may hurt, especially your leg and your back muscles.

Your brain will feel as if it isn't capable of much hard thinking. Short term memory may be affected.

The afterglow: in the few days after, you might feel good but you will want to take it easy, chill for a while.

Then there may be one day after the afterglow where you are heavily down.

The day after you're fine.

The last three fases may differ in length for different individuals.

Some of the mentioned effects can be ascribed to physical and mental exhaustion
and lack of salts, water and nutrients in your body, not alone to the substance.

Exactly. An ecstasy user may feel unnaturally pleasant for a few days after use, but there will likely be a time period where the user is unnaturally depressed (this is when it's essential that you remember to take your prescribed anti-depressant if you have one, if not, a recommended dose of the over-the-counter substance 5-HTP will usually smooths things over just fine.)

[Nagognog2]

Originally Posted by Nacumen

(this is when it's best to take an anti-depressant, which usually smooths things over just fine.)

Do NOT just take an anti-depressant. These drugs are of a nature that they take weeks to work. And weeks more to recover from if stopping them! Just taking a Prozac or a Paxil will do nothing anyways. Do NOT treat anti-depressants like aspirin or Valium. These are dangerous drugs with a plethora of side-effects - including suicidal thoughts and murderous rage.

[Nacumen]

Originally Posted by Nagognog2

Do NOT just take an anti-depressant. These drugs are of a nature that they take weeks to work. And weeks more to recover from if stopping them! Just taking a Prozac or a Paxil will do nothing anyways. Do NOT treat anti-depressants like aspirin or Valium. These are dangerous drugs with a plethora of side-effects - including suicidal thoughts and murderous rage.

Ruh oh, I agree that that was very badly phrased, and I'll admit I have no good knowledge of SSRI's in general. Perhaps it would've been better to say, make extra sure you take your anti-depressant. But really the substance I had in mind was 5-HTP - which is what I would recommend to a person who isn't taking a prescription anti-depressant and is experiencing temporary depression from recent ecstasy use - but I shouldn't have forgotten that anti-depressant could apply to a plethora of different substances...

[ramjet]

I suggest watching Spaced series 1 episode 6. It is a surreal cult British comedy about a bunch of twenty somethings. On this particular episode, although drugs are never mentioned (on purpose) the characters go out clubbing and it is implied that they are on E, simply by the way they are acting, which is the most realistic portrayal of someone on E I've ever seen on TV, especially when the two main characters Tim and Daisy are chatting. The character "tyres" is an exagerrated version of your stereotypical E user, so you may get something from him in terms of culture etc. I know you can find that episode on the net, but I won't go into any more detail because I'm not sure if I'm allowed to discuss that sort of thing.

The film Human Traffic has a lot to offer in that respect too, although perhaps they over do it a bit.

Physical symtoms you want to exhibit include massive grin and clenching/chewing with your jaw. Outward emotional changes will include powerful feelings of warmth, love and openness toward everyone around you, possibly excitedness, childishness, desire to dance. Read some of the experience reports here and on erowid for a clearer idea. If it's the first pill you're character is taking bear in mind it will more than likely be one of the best experiences of his life, so try to capture the feeling of total bliss and intense euphoria, unless of course he is supposed to have a bad "trip".

[grandbaby]

What play is it, by the way?

[defying.gravity]

It's a show for my university's orientation. They show the new freshmen a play that advertises many things they will have to address in university and a number of services provided by the university. Things like drugs, alcohol, rape, sexual assault / harrassment and homosexuality and services like the counselling centre, the health centre and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual Alliance Centre, among other things. It's called Single And Sexy.

[Bajeda]

^^^^^ Reminds me of freshmen orientation somewhat, though they had a comedy troupe with a hilarious routine. Was actually pretty damn good... Sounds similar though.