By Jackie Roberts
Staff Writer
Every day, we pass hundreds of students: in the hallways, in the Hickey, in our dorm buildings and walking from one place to another. Some of these people are our friends; some you may not even know their names. By that glance you make when you pass them, you have no idea if they could be suffering from something you can’t see: a mental illness.
Throughout the decades, films and literature have tried to interpret the emotions and challenges of those suffering from mental illness. Starting Wednesday, Nov. 13, St. Bonaventure University will portray mental illness in women in SBU Theater’s production of “The Walls.”
“The Walls,” written by Lisa Dillman, began as a community-based theatre project. Dillman interviewed women of various mental illnesses and weaved their stories together.
The play focuses on Carrie (Tori Lanzillo a junior theater and journalism and mass communication major) as she researches cases of women who were kept in mental asylums against their will over time. Carrie’s storyline progresses when she meets Lucy (Makeda Loney), who suffers with bipolar disorder. “The Walls” also follows stories of two other women Carrie is researching, Alice (Chasity Brooke Perkins) and Jane (Whitney Downard).
Ed. Simone, professor of theater and director of the production, said he first saw “The Walls” at a festival in Maryland. The production he saw was elaborate with a large set. After being captivated by the performance, Simone took on the challenge of producing “The Walls” in an intimate setting in the Garret Theater, focusing on the performances of the actors rather than the scope of the set.
“It is a very intense show, beautifully done,” Simone said. “It is about struggles that are very real. Typically, mental illness is either portrayed so lightly or so heavily. This play approaches it from many different angles that portray an accurate image of mental illness.”
Lea Battaglia, a junior theater and English major who plays Tabitha (the daughter of Alice), said she hopes students will benefit from the play.
“One of the reasons I love this play so much is because the stories are not told chronologically, yet the audience knows exactly what’s going on,” Battaglia said. “Dillman writes in such a way that is easy to follow, even though we are hopping around to different places and time periods all in the same set.”
Another cast member who raved about the production was Loney, a senior journalism and mass communication major. Loney plays Lucy and is also the assistant costume designer.
“I want students to take away how important it is to be aware of different mental illnesses,” Loney said.
Due to the different time periods portrayed, viewers can gain a greater understanding of how far we have come with understanding mental illness but also how far we still have to go. Simone said he wants the production to help people understand the affects mental illness can have on a person both mentally and socially.
11.4 million Americans over the age of 18 suffered from severe mental illness in the past year. The majority of those affected were women, according to ABC News – and these numbers only included those diagnosed.
“Mental illness carries a stigma. We hope ‘The Walls’ can shed light on that stigma and treat mental illness as something we all share and can all help with,” Simone said.
The production features adult content and language. Showings will be Nov. 13 through 16 at 7:30 p.m. each night. Reserved seating is $8 for the public and $6 for students. Limited free seating for students is available one hour before the show. There are 100 seats in the Garrett Theater, so if you are interested, remember to plan ahead. To book a seat, call the Garret Theater box office at (716) 375-2494.
