Delirium Curtain Call: A look into the play’s creative process

By Daniella Akwanamnye

Chadron State College Theatre department, just in time for Halloween, introduced a new play, “Delirium”, which was an adaption of the Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. The play was written by CSC’s Assistant Professor Brian Grob along with Elena Yazykova Hinckley.

The play, directed by Grob, communicated strong themes of mental health struggles through the three characters living in a mental institution in the 1930s. These characters dealt with the complexities of their minds while facing the treatments –torture– that the doctor puts them through. The actors explained that they were able to get submerged in their respective roles due to extensive research they did. Learning about the histories of mental institutions, like the one in the play, helped them understand the serious themes enough to portray it. It is a solemn play that Grob hopes leaves a lasting impression on his audience, regardless of what emotion it incites in them.

“I like them to have an experience where they can walk away saying, oh, I really identified with this moment or this character…” Grob said. “When they feel that connection to a character, even though these characters are in the extreme, they can look at these characters, and they can see themselves in some ways in them. and in the complexity of what they’re dealing with…”

During the play, there were strategically placed fourth wall breaks giving the audience a more immersive experience, forcing them to be in that moment and sharing the actors’ emotions. This was executed mostly through characters Rae and Jane, and later Heather as the audience watches her descend into a spiral of confusion and delusion.

CSC alum Jen Noonan, who played “Rae” a mute character, explains what it takes to execute the immersion well. The ability to draw in the audience was somewhat of a challenge for Noonan as this had to be done through body language.  She had to read the audience and based on their reactions, intensify or tone down the actor-audience interactions.

“When I have my interaction with the audience because I don’t know how they’re going to react until we’re in the moment,” Noonan said. “I play off of them in the moment and have to adapt.”

CSC alum Halle Smith, who played main character “Heather,” mentioned that she struggled with showing the back-and-forth switch of the character’s psych as she(Heather) descended into delirium.

The end of the play left the audience speechless and in a pensive mood. Some explained that the play did get them thinking about the struggles and care of mental health issues. Resident Life Assistant Director, Porter Anderson, praised the actors and director for such a unique and thought-provoking play.

“It was a good peak into the side of mental health that doesn’t show up on movies and tv shows,” Anderson said.

Delirium showings have concluded and plans for more fall semester plays are unknown. Grob mentions that, for future projects, the theatre department hopes to collaborate more with other departments to get more people involved and invested.

“When we interact with theater, especially meaningful theater, we get reflective in a way that we can better our own lives,” Grob said.

Cast:

Heather: Halle Smith, CSC alum

Doctor Moore: Jarret Buchholz, CSC alum

Jane: Kynlea Boomer of Whitewood, S.D.

Rae: Jen Noonan, CSC alum

Orderly: John Noonan, Chadron resident

Orderly: Katie Hoevet of Scottsbluff, Neb.

Production Team:

Director: Brian Grob, Theatre Department Chair

Assistant Director/Stage Manager/Set and Lighting Designer: Chloe Shatswell of Box Elder, S.D.

Assistant Stage Manager: MacKenzie Liewer of Pender, Neb.

Costume Designer: Ruby Stone of McCook, Neb.

Props Designer/Props Master: Tena Cook, CSC Marketing Coordinator