For those looking for something to do this weekend, “For The Tenth Time” will be performed at Putnam Hall, a show written, directed and acted out by students of the university that focuses on bipolar disorder and bringing a more human face to mental illness.
The show times include April 6, 7 and 8 at 8 p.m. as well as April 7 and 8 at 2 p.m. in the Putnam Playspace.
Jack Allen Murphy, a sophomore studying playwriting, wrote the show. Murphy said he wanted to write a script that did not view mental illness as an evil characteristic, which he believes is how mental illness is usually portrayed in movies and theater. Instead, he said he went for a more realistic perspective.
The show tells the story of a family with women of three generations dealing with hereditary mental illness while coping with the loss of the family’s patriarch.
“I wanted to show a realistic perspective of not just life, but life with mental illness,” he said. “Usually it is used as the antagonistic force. It is the source of villainy, it is the easy cop out making the person with mental illness the monster when oftentimes, they just need help.”
Murphy said he was inspired to write the show because of his own experiences dealing with mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. He said he as well as other family members deal with this disorder and he wanted to portray generational trauma and mental illness in the show.
He said he hopes that people will take away kindness and self acceptance from the show.
“At times we see people and they’re at their worst, but we have no idea what’s going on inside their head,” he said. “It could be a whole war in there.”
Shelby Merchant, a junior studying musical theater and playwriting, is directing the show and works with actors to make sure the show will be ready for this weekend. She said auditions were held at the end of February so the cast has been working on the show for roughly a month and a half.
Merchant said this was her first time directing a play she had not written herself so this has been a very special experience for her.
She said working with the actors has been very fulfilling and she hopes to direct more in the future.
“Honestly, I'm really excited that people are going to see it,” she said. “I think that these actors deserve to be seen by an audience. This is a show that deserves to be told. Honestly, nobody could come to the show and I would still feel just as fulfilled because working with this team and putting the show together has been incredibly rewarding.”
Merchant says she understands that students can be very busy and that the School of Theater among other groups put on shows very frequently but that she truly believes the play is worth seeing.
Sydney Campbell, a freshman studying acting, says that in the script she embodies the role Sylvie, a character navigating life with mental illness within the family the show follows.
She said she has loved being able to run through the play fully and see all the different parts come together.
“The cast has been really great and it’s really cool to dive into this show as I haven't worked in heavy shows like this before,” she said.
Merchant says despite the heavier topic, the show has a wonderful holistic take away for audiences.
“I really think if you want a picture of family and a picture of hope in the face of grief, this is a great show to see,” she said.
