By the time Ralph Keyes spoke in the Wiscasset High School gym September 26, students had spent about an hour learning about the early warning signs of dating violence.

Put-downs, control issues, isolating the other person from his or her family and friends, and other signs that a relationship may be turning unsafe were highlighted in the play, “The Yellow Dress.”

New Hope for Women has been arranging for Deana's Educational Theater to present the play in several Maine schools. The Wiscasset performance and follow-up discussion put the number of students reached so far at about 2,300, according to New Hope representatives.

The play is based on a number of domestic violence incidents involving different victims.

The story Keyes shared with students afterward was about an actual incident that a friend of his survived.

The woman had gotten out of a troubled relationship but had agreed the man could stop by to pick up something, Keyes said.

The man's subsequent brutal attack on her left Keyes' friend with neurological and other injuries.

It has also led her to work to help other victims of domestic violence, Keyes said.

He told students there are people all around them who want to help if someone is hurting them.

“Nobody owns you and nobody controls what you do,” Keyes said.

A teacher, guidance counselor, police, hotlines, family and friends can all be a starting point for getting help, speakers said.

Actor Tim Hoover, one of the facilitators of the discussion, said a friend who is being subjected to violence may not respond right away to an offer of help.

“Sometimes they're not ready to tell right away, but if you keep that line of communication open, that's so important,” Hoover said.

Wiscasset Police Chief Troy Cline came to the assembly. He said he wanted students to know that if they think they might be in an abusive relationship, they can talk to him or another officer about it.

“If they're in a relationship displaying any of these (signs), they should talk to somebody,” Cline said. “The police department is here for them and we will get them the resources they need.”