The controversial play "N*gger, Wetb*ck, Ch*nk" has been performed from Los Angeles to Boston, but last night was its largest performance ever.

Elementary-school students to retirees filed into McCain Auditorium, and at the end of the night, the crowd totaled 1,439, which surpassed the group's previous largest performance by 250, Steven Seagle, co-writer of the show, said.

The show wasted no time in smacking the audience in the face with its eye-grabbing title. In the opening sequence the three characters, Allan Axibal, CH*NK; Miles Gregley, N*GGER; and Raphael Agustin, WETB*CK, created a beat using nothing but the three terms: "chink, wetback, nigger."

Many members of the audience heard of the play through word of mouth and were excited to see and understand the heart of the show.

"(It's) risky, but you can definitely tell they're going to prove a point," Deborah Muhwezi, sophomore in mass communications, said.

From the start, "N*gger, Wetb*ck, Ch*nk" took the audience on a wild ride, from laughter, to sympathy, to tense moments, as it stomped through a subject that many approach only on tip-toe.

There is nothing hidden about the meaning of the show. It was spelled out in the first five minutes.

"It's a show about race - the only race that matters - the human race," the performers said.

Contained within the play are humorous sketches about stereotypes, poetic moments about culture, and each actor's personal description of when race first became an issue.

"When you're 8 or 9, I don't think you know how to hate who you are," said Axibal of when he first heard "chink" used in reference to himself, "but you can definitely learn."

In addition, there was a sketch that dealt with using race to obtain an unfair advantage in some circumstances. At the end of the segment, as the performers often did, they rounded off a serious moment by bringing the audience to laughter.

"The race card - sometimes good, sometimes bad - but one thing's for sure: you can't leave home without it," they said in unison.

At times shocking, at times sad, and at times hilarious, the event left a favorable impression on the audience.

"I loved it," said Rachel Osterhaus, freshman in early childhood education. "It was funny, and it also had a good message."

Joel Pearson, graduate student in student development, said the play is a good step in the right direction for everyone and that even minorities can become hemmed in concerning stereotypes of other people.

"This is for everybody," he said. "It gets the message started, but more has to be done."