Liza Giangrande in “Manic Monologue.” (Photo: Finn Bamber)
More than 1 in 5 American adults have a mental illness, but mental health remains a taboo topic – as one actor says on Moonbox’s The Manic Monologues: “The stigma is more dangerous than the disease.” ” The work took place in the new Arrow Street Arts studio space in Harvard Square.
The show aims to break down stereotypes and encourage dialogue through a series of short vignettes about conditions ranging from depression to OCD to schizophrenia.
Six cast members will perform approximately 20 monologues. These are all true stories from people all over the world. One person described an experience with tongue thrusting (that’s exactly what it sounds like), a side effect of schizophrenia medication. Another person explained that having a boyfriend with bipolar disorder inspired her to become a psychiatrist. The third was believed to be due to believing a diagnosis that contradicted the beliefs of the family. Right in the middle was a story by Zachary Burton, who co-wrote the show with Eliza Hoffmeister after she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2017 while completing her Ph.D. at Stanford University.
The story was compelling, if not necessarily the best written. Much, if not most, of it is told with humor, which makes it more palatable, but sometimes makes it feel less authentic.
Sidaria Santos (left) and Carla Crumlin in “The Manic Monologues.” (Photo: Finn Bamber)
The concept was mostly well executed. Sometimes the delivery didn’t go well. I wasn’t always as sure as I wanted to be. Many of the stories were moving, some were intense, and some were unforgettable. The two that stuck with me the most were his stories about a mother’s suicide and a father revealing his mental illness to his son. (Liza Giangrande, who played the suicide monologue, also did a great job with the psychiatrist monologue and was definitely a standout performer. Cidaria Santos and Katie Kendrick had some really great moments.) Ta.)
The minimal production and simple costumes made it easy to focus on the story. The design of the sound and light was also well-crafted. The sound effects sprinkled throughout the monologue were particularly impressive. They fit the story perfectly and were perfectly timed without overstepping the line. This audio enhanced the story and greatly contributed to the viewing experience.
After the show, mental health production consultant Sarah Bird led the audience in a short conversation, allowing members to share monologues that resonated with them. I don’t often feel like a play needs to end with a community conversation, but in this case having such a vulnerable discussion after an emotional viewing experience felt like an ending. And it warmed my heart to see strangers, bound only by what we saw, discussing these topics in earnest. I came away feeling encouraged and inspired as this show truly breaks down barriers and moves us towards true mental health awareness and respect.
- “The Manic Monologues” Written by Zachary Burton and Eliza Hoffmeister, Directed by Brad Reinking. Moonbox Productions is at Arrow Street Arts, 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, until Saturday.
