[flexcoders] referencing a private function

[Dominic Pazula]

I have a component extending MenuBar whose data provider provides the 
internal handler for the itemClick.  I have a generic function that 
checks the MenuEvent for the needed property and then trys to call 
the function it specifies.

Specifically

<mx:MenuBar xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml"; 
itemClick="internalClick(event)">
<mx:Script>
<![CDATA[
        private function internalClick(event:MenuEvent):void{
        if (event.item.hasOwnProperty("internalEvt")){
                try{
                        this[event.item.internalEvt]()
                }
                catch(e:Error){
                                
                }
        }
        }

...

Now this works well as long as the specified function is public.  
However, I don't want all of these functions to be public.  How can I 
reference and call a private function dynamically?

Thanks
Dominic