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Grande Hysterie
Roger Rueff
Directed by Russ Tutterow
At Chicago Dramatist
1105 W. Chicago
Chicago, IL
Call 312-633-0630, tickets $22 - $28
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time is 2 hours, 15 minutes with intermission
Through October 29, 2006
Complex psychological drama more than it seems
In the World Premiere of Roger Rueff’s Grande Hysterie now at Chicago Dramatist under the smart direction from Russ Tutterow, we are thrust into the world of mental illness. This riveting work has a mysterious quality as we patiently witness the whining Fiona (Judy Blue) who is determined to help her old friend Ivy (Jenny McKnight) recover from her multiple-personality disorder. Fiona appears as a troubled soul also as she seems compelled to help Ivy despite Ivy’s unpredictable and threatening behavior. We see Ivy’s many personalities ranging from a shy child to a nasty, foul-mouthed intimidator to a potentially violent person. We are baffled why Fiona is so attached and determined to help Ivy especially when Fiona is frightened by her?
Playwright Roger Rueff weaves the work through Fiona’s visits to a psychologist as she tries to explain her obsession and dependence on Ivy to give her life meaning. Rueff cleverly threads the story with poignant looks at the destructive nature of mental illness in the form of multiple personality disorder. Fiona uses the visits to Dr. Shapiro (Ron Quade) to learn how to free herself from Ivy. Fiona has an admirer; Jack (Tim Curtis) who wants to marry her but Fiona is so obsessed with Ivy that she tunes him out. As the play unfolds, we are strained to understand the play’s actions and motivations. Why would Fiona continue living with Ivy? And why would Fiona seduce Ivy’s boy toy Paris (Walter Thon)?
The last five minutes, it all comes together and we realize that reality here isn’t what we thought it was. As we relive the show in our minds, we realize that the playwright left us enough clues for the mystery to be solved and we accept the surprise since it makes so much sense. You’ll have to see the show to appreciate the cleverness of the plotting.
Grande Hysterie serves as an examination of mental illness as seen through the eyes and mind of a suffer who peoples her world by creating “others” as a means of cooping with life. This is a compelling and crafty work. You’ll see a wonderful performance from Jenny McKnight and you’ll leave amazed at the power of the human mind. I appreciate Rueff’s intelligent writing and, once he trims some of the fat, Grande Hysterie will become a most intriguing psychological drama.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2006
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