I've always loved productions involving mental illness, and I wish there were more. Next to normal and Elephant Man were quite good. I also fondly remember a revival of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 15 or so years ago. I never saw it though. There are so many theater adaptations from great movies that can be done.
Anyway, what is your favorite?
Edit. Elephant Man does not involve any sort of mental illness. Strictly a physical deformity.
tazber said: "The Elephant Man is not about mental illness.
Yes, Joseph Merrick did mostly suffer from a physical deformity, but it seemed to me there was also an element of mental illness there as well. But maybe I'm wrong.
John Merrick not only wasn't mentally ill, he had a superior brain. He was well read, and his artistic talent was evident in his superb architectural creations. His poise and upper class mannerisms made him a "celebrity" whom everyone wanted to meet.
Jane2 said: "John Merrick not only wasn't mentally ill, he had a superior brain. He was well read, and his artistic talent was evident in his superb architectural creations. His poise and upper class mannerisms made him a "celebrity" whom everyone wanted to meet.
I'm sure that this seems a stupid thing to comment on, but I just feel it's important to point out that being having a mental illness and having a superior brain are FAR from mutually exclusive. Someone can be mentally ill and also be incredibly intelligent, creative, and charismatic.
I do understand how the OP got mixed up, as its heavily implied (if not outright said- it's been a while since I've read it) that Merrick kills himself, but it's not as a result of mental illness.
(Some day, I'm going to convince my students to let me do it - the lack of girls is the obstacle, not the subject matter.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
"it's important to point out that being having a mental illness and having a superior brain are FAR from mutually exclusive. Someone can be mentally ill and also be incrdibly intelligent, creative, and charismatic."
First of all, yes, often the mentally ill have genius IQ's, as did my sister. Second of all, I think you're trying to explain mental illness to the wrong person, but thank you. Third of all, referring to this thread topic, The Elephant Man is not a play about mental illness.