★★★✰✰
One-woman shows have been in abundance at this year’s fringe. From the oppressed community of journalists in Hong Kong to historical figures who were stigmatised following the death of loved ones, these shows have offered intriguing and genuine insights into the marginalised people’s experiences.
NYC comedian and playwright Mike Lemme brings another personal story to the table with Before The Drugs Kick In, blending stand-up comedy and theatre to create a dark and tragic portrait of a woman whose voice was stifled by an unsympathetic society. Inspired by Lemme’s personal relationship with his mother, we are introduced to a 62-year-old woman (played by Lynn T. Walsh) in a psychiatric ward who imagines that she’s a 28-year-old stand-up comedian, aiming to transform her bad memories into a “piece of art.”
Comedy is the operative coping mechanism for this woman and she never holds back. She relentlessly throws jabs against controversial figures like Jerry Seinfeld and Woody Allen who continue to be admired despite their problematic past, whereas she has been unfairly maligned for her mental struggles. We are subsequently taken on a gritty and agonising journey through this woman’s painful struggles with isolation, the harsh prejudice towards mental illness, and the sexist attitudes towards American housewives in 1990s America.
As the play gets underway, we are met with heavy doses of dark humour which creates a visceral feeling of discomfort across the audience. That uneasiness builds and builds, rendering the otherwise difficult and taboo topics of self-harm and suicide accessible. However, the play begins to lose focus as there are frequent digressions to different anecdotes or social commentaries which don’t lead to strong punchlines. The non-linear and meandering nature of storytelling means it becomes difficult to construct an accurate timeline of events which leads to us quickly getting lost.
Other humour can feel hit or miss with some of the more graphic jokes provoking a chuckle of discomfort and others failing to elicit much laughter. The frequent mockery aimed at controversial celebrities was met with plenty of laughter at first however, the gag quickly starts to wear thin. The character suddenly yanks us out of a provocative anecdote about her struggles to a ruthless soap-box rant which becomes very jarring and distracting from the emotional core of the play.
Lynn T. Walsh brings a deep tenderness to the role which helps redeem the unfocused narrative. There’s an overall despondent air about the character, effectively alluding to her deeply troubled past. And while the plot feels disjointed, Walsh is sincere and subtle in depicting the heart-breaking reality our character experiences at missing her children. The wounding statement that she only saw her children three times in 24 years cuts deep and the pervading sense of loss and suffering is poignantly conveyed through her performance.
Before The Drugs Kick In could do with some structural revisions to fully explore and articulate the raw tragedy of the piece. Despite this, the play presents an intense experience of mental illness helmed by a confident and evocative performer.
Before The Drugs Kick In will be performed at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall – Theatre 2 from 22-26 August at 12:55pm as part of Edinburgh Fringe.
Words by Katie Heyes
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.