Feminist Play

The study guide describes Emily Mann, the playwright behind Mrs. Packard, as someone who provides a voice for the voiceless, and I’m excited about that. Theatre has the potential to shed light on important subjects, and it’s nice to see an artist using that potential to educate people. I have high hopes for the social context of this production; my horizon of expectations is definitely geared toward a feminist play. It’s so rare (in my experience, at least) to have a play written by a woman and written about a woman (with what appears to be a lack of a male love interest!). I’m also intrigued by the subject matter of the play: a strong-willed woman is committed to an insane asylum by her conservative and controlling husband. I’m a history buff, …show more content…
Packard does), because the audience can either misjudge Christianity, or the playwright can use their production to completely bash the religion; both of these things make me uncomfortable. It’s so important for an audience watching this type of show to realize that people can pervert God to justify anything and that Christ doesn’t necessarily take after people who call themselves Christians. I understand people who are frustrated with Christians and they way they misrepresent themselves, but I dislike it when that frustration transfers over to God. Hopefully, Mrs. Packard won’t be like that. I’m also guilty of being uncomfortable around the topic of mental illness or even people who are affected by it. One of my closest friends struggled with depression and self-harm and I watched her go through it, so mental health is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. I understand that this production centers around a healthy woman who has been falsely accused of insanity, but I’m still nervous to see how Emily Mann treats the subject. From what I have read, I’m fairly certain that she has written about mental illness with respect and …show more content…
The set can be simple, maybe a few wooden chairs and a table, but the costumes have to somewhat resemble what people would wear in the 19th century. I envision the women in long skirts, tights, and loose white blouses with their hair pulled back in neat buns, and I envision the mean in white shirts, boots with neutral colored boots and pants. These costumes are inexpensive because most of the actors will already have the necessary pieces. I would try to create some sort of neutral backdrop (beige or champagne colored) to block out the backstage area and create the illusion of an indoor room. I doubt there will be much special lighting used in this production (unlike the last show, flashing police lights are not necessary); dim to normal lighting should suffice.
I hope that the director and performers choose to emphasize the historical significance of the real Mrs. Packard’s story. Not only is she important to the women’s rights movement, she was also a key person in raising awareness about mental health and the conditions of patients in insane asylums. The production is filled with delicate, but important, subject matter, and I believe that the director will choose to emphasize