Madness, rare astrological events and Biblical language are all inherently dramatic - so for a playwright, a psychiatric ward, where a psychotic star-gazer equates the moon’s shadow with religious rebirth, provides a prime vantage point for the total eclipse that held Britain rapt almost 10 years ago.
Melodrama could be a problem, as well as daunting similarities to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but convincing acting, under Chris Loveless’ direction, makes us believe in the agonising tension, hope and despair of life at the margins as only more extreme forms of what any of us feel.
The short version of the plot synopsis is cult psychiatrist RD Laing’s observation - devastating for patient and psychiatrist alike - that “psychiatry is the Crucifixion without the Resurrection”.
To expand, secured patient John, played compellingly by a tousle-haired Michael Dylan, is full of lilting Irish charm until thwarted in his dream to make it to Cornwall for 11 minutes past 11 on August 11, 1999.
By way of subplot, he is entangled with fellow patient, the sexually needy Judy (Annabel Bates) against a musical backdrop of Madame Butterfly.
At the same time, the awkward, unsexy Doctor Brown (Oliver Hume) is tormented by nurse Lucy (Beverley Longhurst), whose angry loathing rivals that of her charges.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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