Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness

I've always loved productions involving mental illness, and I wish there were more. Next to normal and Elephant Man were quite good. I also fondly remember a revival of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 15 or so years ago. I never saw it though. There are so many theater adaptations from great movies that can be done.

Anyway, what is your favorite?

Edit. Elephant Man does not involve any sort of mental illness. Strictly a physical deformity.

Updated On: 12/22/15 at 04:29 PM

tazber said: "The Elephant Man is not about mental illness.

Yes, Joseph Merrick did mostly suffer from a physical deformity, but it seemed to me there was also an element of mental illness there as well. But maybe I'm wrong.

"

Memphis

Harvey

John Merrick not only wasn't mentally ill, he had a superior brain. He was well read, and his artistic talent was evident in his superb architectural creations. His poise and upper class mannerisms made him a "celebrity" whom everyone wanted to meet.

Streetcar named Desire.

Oh I wouldn't have thought of that one SNAFU.

That's one of my favorite musicals.

Marat/Sade

I really wish someone would revive this in the very near future.

It already has music...

...but it really needs some splashy dance numbers. Polpoch's gotta tap that syphillys away!

Jane2 said: "John Merrick not only wasn't mentally ill, he had a superior brain. He was well read, and his artistic talent was evident in his superb architectural creations. His poise and upper class mannerisms made him a "celebrity" whom everyone wanted to meet.

I'm sure that this seems a stupid thing to comment on, but I just feel it's important to point out that being having a mental illness and having a superior brain are FAR from mutually exclusive. Someone can be mentally ill and also be incredibly intelligent, creative, and charismatic.

I do understand how the OP got mixed up, as its heavily implied (if not outright said- it's been a while since I've read it) that Merrick kills himself, but it's not as a result of mental illness.

I adore The Boys Next Door.

(Some day, I'm going to convince my students to let me do it - the lack of girls is the obstacle, not the subject matter.)

Updated On: 12/22/15 at 09:48 AM

"it's important to point out that being having a mental illness and having a superior brain are FAR from mutually exclusive. Someone can be mentally ill and also be incrdibly intelligent, creative, and charismatic."

First of all, yes, often the mentally ill have genius IQ's, as did my sister. Second of all, I think you're trying to explain mental illness to the wrong person, but thank you. Third of all, referring to this thread topic, The Elephant Man is not a play about mental illness.