Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
levinb
Chorus Member Joined: 2/10/15
#1Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 4:29pm
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
#2Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 4:37pm
The Elephant Man is not about mental illness.
levinb
Chorus Member Joined: 2/10/15
#3Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 4:40pm
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.
"
#4Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 4:47pm
The Boys Next Door is a favorite of mine.
Hamilton22
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/15
#6Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 4:52pm
Hamilton22 said: "Memphis"
I don't really care for you as a poster but I LOVE this.
ARTc3
Broadway Star Joined: 8/5/13
#7Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 4:54pm
Harvey
#8Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 4:54pm
Hamilton22 said: "Memphis
"
That made me laugh. Good one.
Hamilton22
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/15
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#11Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 5:45pm
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.
#12Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 5:46pm
"The House of Blue Leaves" by John Guare
#14Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 6:03pm
Man of La Mancha.
#15Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 6:09pm
Oh I wouldn't have thought of that one SNAFU.
That's one of my favorite musicals.
funhamilton_rent
Featured Actor Joined: 9/26/15
theatregoer3
Broadway Star Joined: 3/8/13
#17Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 7:50pm
Marat/Sade
I really wish someone would revive this in the very near future.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#18Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 7:52pm
Musicalizing it might be a rip.
theatregoer3
Broadway Star Joined: 3/8/13
#19Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/21/15 at 9:11pm
It already has music...
...but it really needs some splashy dance numbers. Polpoch's gotta tap that syphillys away!
teh_pretty
Featured Actor Joined: 4/2/05
FlowerChild67
Stand-by Joined: 7/11/12
#21Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/22/15 at 6:01am
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.
#22Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/22/15 at 6:05am
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#23Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/22/15 at 9:48am
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.)
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#24Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/22/15 at 12:14pm
Agree re A Streetcar Named Desire, Proof, and Blue Leaves.
If the daughter in Night Mother is mentally ill, I would certainly include that.
Next to Normal (although a musical)
#25Favorite Plays Involving Mental Illness
Posted: 12/22/15 at 12:22pm
"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.
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