Madlab play encompasses mental health, suicide and romantic issues
A psychologist's darkest fantasy threatens her good life, successful career and impending marriage in “Let's Hope You Feel Better.”
Madlab will present the world premiere of Samantha Oty's dark comedy, which will open Oct. 7 at 227 N. 3rd St.
“This play can lead to bigger conversations about mental health, why we do what we do and how you never know what someone may be struggling with,” director Sarah Vargo said.
Seven actors appear in the 90-minute one-act about how mental health, assisted suicide, morality and identity can affect friendships, romantic partnerships and family relationships.
“At first, you don't really know what's going on, but after a few scenes, you begin to realize that something is not quite right,” Vargo said.
“There are sincere moments of love and levity juxtaposed with highly uncomfortable, even vulgar moments where you can only laugh at the audacity of what's being said or done onstage,” she said.
The play explores the boundaries of normality.
“No one is ever quite as normal as they seem. What keeps everyone reined in are the social norms we've all agreed to,” lead actress Mclane L. Nagy said.
Nagy plays Therese Blanc, torn between her recent engagement to a handsome surgeon and a dangerous online relationship related to her academic thesis on the psychology of the modern cannibal.
“Therese is a perfectionist and control freak . ... She thinks she has her life compartmentalized in a way that will
give her the peace and closure she wants without having to sacrifice anything,” Nagy said.
Therese, meanwhile, has a difficult relationship with Marie (Catherine Cryan Erney), her cold, controlling mother.
“Therese is trying to free herself from becoming exactly like her mother,” Nagy said.
Nagy likened the play to a B-movie horror film.
“Because she's a therapist, with a complex about knowing best . ... Therese thinks her fantasy can't control her,” Nagy said.
“But everything that could go wrong does go wrong for her,” she said.
Tom Murdock plays Isaac Abrams, an anxiety-plagued young man in New York City.
“He's incredibly sincere, but doesn't know how to reach out to other people in the real world, so he's secluded himself in an online space,” Murdock said.
With his fiance recently having left, Isaac is depressed and commits acts of self-harm.
“Isaac reflects a lot of young men today, who build an online persona instead of socializing in the real world,” Murdock said.
Visiting a web forum for exploring extreme fetishes, Isaac meets Therese.
“It's the first time he's had someone take a real interest in who he is. The humor in Isaac's scenes comes from watching someone so awkward but also so sincere trying to navigate a relationship,” Murdock said.
The actor, 28, found his character recognizable.
“I have my own battles with depression and anxiety . ... nowhere near the extent Isaac does, but enough to empathize with someone who could go down that rabbit hole,” Murdock said.
Oty's comedy should appeal to fans of true-crime series and podcasts, which “open up audiences to the stranger things in the world,” he said.
The play is suggested for mature audiences because of violence, profanity, sexuality, partial nudity and the eroticization of death.
“People should be aware of what they're walking into with this play about a really toxic relationship,” Nagy said.
“But after the darkness of the past two years, we've all been through the wringer, so some people may see this play as catharsis, a way to laugh at pain.” mgrossberg1@gmail.com @mgrossberg1