Aimee Mann's songs take centre stage in a new stage adaptation of Susanna Kaysen's memoir 'Girl, Interrupted', now playing at the Public Theater in Manhattan. The production, described as a 'play with music', features Mann's shimmering compositions that offer insight into the inner lives of young women in a 1960s psychiatric hospital.
Juliana Canfield stars as Susanna, who arrives at McLean Hospital in 1967 after a suicide attempt. She encounters a cast of troubled characters, including charismatic Lisa (King Princess), roommate Grace (Mia Pak), Daisy (Katherine Reis) and Polly (Sally Shaw). Unlike the 1999 film adaptation, this version tones down cinematic overstatement for a more grounded approach.
Standout songs include 'Burn It Out', where Polly explains her self-mutilation, and 'Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath', sung by Susanna and Grace as they ponder the link between creativity and madness. The music, accompanied by piano, violin and guitar, creates an austere chamber atmosphere that briefly accesses vast abstract thought.
Director Jo Bonney's staging is simple, using a turntable and chairs, with Heather Gilbert's lighting design shaping individual spaces. Playwright Martyna Majok and Bonney maintain restraint, leaving deeper meanings for the audience to discern. Canfield holds the centre with quiet intelligence, portraying adult Susanna reflecting on a time she still doesn't fully comprehend.
King Princess underplays the flashy role of Lisa, offering a calmer take than Angelina Jolie's Oscar-winning performance. The production ultimately serves as a sturdy showcase for Mann's gorgeous, melancholic compositions, even if it doesn't fully convey the weight of Kaysen's conclusions.
