Student actors more than rise to the occasion in ambitious 2018 production
The Crookston High School Theatre Department will have a One-Act play public performance of “The Insanity of Mary Girard” on Monday, January 22 at 7 p.m. in the CHS Auditorium. The story is set in 1790 where Mary Girard is committed to an asylum by her husband after becoming pregnant by another man. She sits in her “tranquilizing chair” as the “furies” dance around to taunt and jeer her. Towards the end of this haunting theatrical interpretation, Mary has started to convince herself of the diagnosis.
The opening scene begins with Mary Girard in “the chair” in the asylum as Fury 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 dance around her, laughing at her, and driving her mad. The furies are “crazy” talented, playing off each other and being as quick-witted as any character I’ve ever witnessed. Throughout the production, they continue to feed off of Mary’s imagination and try to “help” her realize all of her fears. Are the furies her subconscious or are they multiple personalities? That’s debatable.
The rest of the story unwinds with us finding out that Mr. Girard is a powerful wealthy businessman who “repudiates” Mary after finding out she was “with child” by another man. Could this be the reason he’s trying to “dispose” of her at the asylum after years of marriage and not producing a child of their own? Was having a child of his own one of his “goals” for marrying a “peasant” ten years younger than he? Either way, you can feel the tension between Mr. and Mrs. Girard whenever they’re onstage together.
This cast of high school students, whether experienced in theatre or just getting started, play into the deep sadness and horror of the situation causing the audience to move towards the edge of their seat in every scene. The twists and turns that the characters endure, and the spoilers that come out later in the story made for an interesting 33 minutes and 56 seconds (was that what it was?) in the CHS Auditorium. It’s a must see.
Cast List:
Mary Girard - Anna Huck
Fury #1 - Nekeisha Watkins
Fury #2 - Sarah Ryan
Fury #3 - Gina Vises
Fury #4 - Victoria Proulx
Fury #5 - Jessica Willits
The Warder - Damian Hodgson
Mrs. Lum - Grace Steiner
Mr. Phillips - Justin Pietruszewski
Mr. Stephen Girard - Zachary Sanders
Polly Kenton - Luisa Bernia
Mrs. Hatcher - Skylar Weiland
Assistants to the director - Blaine Asman and Cyle Keim
Sound and Lights - Jordan Lessard, Linnea French and Sophia Rezac
Costumer - Phyllis Hagen
Director - Beth Carlson