Theater is at its best when it can make you die from laughter and maybe even laugh at death. Tackling the issues of death and the media’s response to it, the dark comedy “After Ashley,” a play presented by student-run theater organization Basement Arts, successfully accomplishes these two tasks in a sensitive and thought-provoking piece.

“After Ashley,” written by Gina Gionfriddo, follows the life of Justin Hammond, a teenager whose mother Ashley has been brutally murdered. Hammond’s story focuses on his grief following his mother’s murder, juxtaposed with how the media covers the tragedy.

“What it focuses on is how in our culture the media has become a tool of exploitation for tragedy. If something terrible happens to a family, it becomes everybody’s issue. The whole nation knows about it, and it gives people an opportunity to adopt other people’s tragedies,” said director Emilie Samuelsen, a Music, Theatre & Dance junior.

“You hear about a terrible news story, and you feel bad. On the surface, you (empathize), but when it gets deeper, what you’re really doing is taking someone else’s tragedy and pretending it’s your own. That’s kind of what the show explores,” she added.

“After Ashley” also revolves around a memoir Hammond’s father writes to honor his deceased wife. However, the father’s portrayal of Ashley causes conflict within his son.

“It also deals with how people are remembered after they have passed away. One of the main frustrations that (Justin) deals with is that everyone is remembering his mother as this saintly, cartoon version of who she was, instead of recognizing her flaws and shortcomings,” Samuelsen said. “Is it better that we remember them as these sugar-coated, rose-colored versions of themselves or should we remember them for who they are despite their flaws?”

Samuelsen’s point brings to mind recent celebrity deaths. The faces of Michael Jackson and Brittany Murphy were plastered all over the Internet and dominated the news upon their deaths. Despite their eclectic media lives before their deaths, Jackson's and Murphy’s careers were portrayed in an extremely positive light upon their passing. We weren't told to remember them for both their fortes and their failings. This notion of looking favorably upon the dead is just one of the concepts that “After Ashley” seeks to explore.

So, as opening day approaches, how do the cast and crew feel about bringing the play to the stage?

“Everyone is really excited. The thing about doing a theatrical production is that it is stressful because it’s a lot of pressure and work, but everyone is so invested in the project that even though you are overwhelmed, you are happy to be so,” Samuelsen said.

Samuelsen hopes that students will come and see the play for many reasons.

“Everybody loves a dark comedy,” she said. “It’s the perfect balance between funny and heartbreaking because it is dealing with death. The characters are so smart and the dialogue is so sharp that even though you are watching small, intimate interactions between two or three people, it’s such smart conversation that it really holds your attention. It makes you think about things that you’d never consider before.”

Samuelsen's personal investment in the performance is evident from her enthusiasm.

"For me, that’s one of the main reasons that I love theater, because what you’re doing is you’re watching these stories unfold that make you reconsider things in your own life,” she said. “Shows don’t necessarily aim to change how you live your life, but what they want to do is make you think about how you live your life.”