Eerie look at mental illness
GreyZelda Theatre Group specializes in unconventional works utilizing a blend of realism with acting and performance art techniques with minimal staging. I was impressed with their Metamorphosis so I thought I’d take another look at this promising group. This group deserves an audience and it was sad that I was the only audience member for a Wednesday night show. I’m glad this group performed for me---it was a marvelous show.
The Insanity of Mary Girard is a scary glimpse into the power of husbands in 1790 America when a rich man can commit his wife to a mental institution by merely stating that she is insane. In that day, medieval theories still persisted as to a husband’s absolute ownership of his wife. Since a husband has power of attorney over the wife, he can ask the court to declare her insane and place her in an asylum at his will. The wife has little recourse.
The cruel Stephen Girard did in fact place Mary in a Philadelphia mental institution after she exhibited temper tantrums. It was assumed that these came from insanity. The fact that Mary may have been reacting to cruel physical and mental abuse from her husband was never considered.
The Insanity of Mary Girard is a chilling and creepy look into the world of insanity. We see Mary tied-down in a wheelchair with a head harness. She is surrounded by five lunatics. Mary’s adventure involves her attempt to come to grips with her present status. The five crazies cleverly make her see her plight. This engaging show features six woman totally committed and immersed into their characters. From Rebecca Zellar’s convincing (that she is sane) performance to five of the most compelling crazies you’ll ever see on stage, director Chris Riter has each reacting both physically and emotionally to the action. Lisa Baer, Patrycja Mager, Ebru Yonak, Stacie Barra and Elizabeth Styles were outstanding as each had their moments to excel and each underscored the scene’s action.
This show will scare you, upset you and engage you as it reinforces the power of the live stage. The overwhelming weight of this show will impress you. GreyZelda Theatre Group is a young troupe to watch. This is a perfect Halloween show.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
From the Chicago Reader:
Based on actual events, Lanie Robertson's one-act tells the story of a woman whose wealthy, powerful husband has her committed to a mental hospital in 1790s Philadelphia. Although no one knows the truth about the real Mary Girard's mental health, Robertson makes her an unambiguous feminist martyr, wrongly imprisoned and thus entitled to spout female-empowerment bromides. Rather than a piece of storytelling, the play becomes an exercise in judging past sins by contemporary standards. Director Chris Riter does a nice job of creating an eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere for the mental hospital in this GreyZelda Theatre Group production, but Rebecca Zellar's understated, uninflected, decidedly contemporary performance as Mary only reinforces the play's ahistoricism. --Zac Thompson