Theatre: mental health discourse explored in this mother-daughter drama

Anitha (left) and Sukania return to the stage in ‘Night, Mother, which opens at PJPac on Jan 6. Photo: PH7

Pulitzer Prize-winning play ‘Night, Mother by American playwright Marsha Norman is about suicide.

It is both a challenging and rewarding work to take on, especially when dealing with the family drama that unfolds on stage. A mum and her daughter have to confront painful situations in this incredibly sad, yet powerful play.

How do you react when someone you love announces a plan to die?

In Norman’s ‘Night, Mother, Thelma is distressed when her epileptic daughter Jessie hatches a plan to die.

This theatre work, which opens at the Nero Event Space, Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPac) on Jan 6, sees newcomer director Pat Gui handling this 90-minute two-hander, featuring veteran stage actor Sukania Venugopal (who plays the elderly Thelma) and screen/stage actor Anitha Hamid (the volatile Jessie role).

The production is presented by PH7 Production Management.

“This is a very powerful play. I heard of it some time in the late 1990s and it has been on my mind ever since. With all the emotions that the characters go through, you would feel like you’re riding on a rollercoaster,” says Gui, 48, who makes her directorial debut after working in the theatre industry for 30 years in stage production and management.

It’s a big leap for the affable director, who is moving out of her comfort zone.

“It’s nerve wrecking. This time, I have to study the play more in depth, the meanings in the lines and how I interpret the play along with the actors. I am just glad that I have very experienced actors. They have helped me a lot in my directorial journey,” she shares.

‘Night, Mother focuses on themes such as mental health challenges, loneliness, strained relationships, and motherhood. Theatregoers may find some of the issues explored in this tragic story relevant, says Gui, especially after nearly two years of life in various lockdowns and now managing post-pandemic anxiety.

The play was originally slated for last January. But due to the pandemic situation, the production had to be postponed and rehearsals only resumed last month says Gui, who has overseen some intense rehearsals in recent days.

That’s nearly a whole year of staying the distance and waiting for the right time to return to the stage.

‘Night, Mother takes place over the course of a single evening in the kitchen-cum-living room of an isolated house, which Jessie and her elderly mother Thelma share.

The Nero Event Space is set to be the atmospheric backdrop for Sukania and Anitha’s riveting scenes.

It’s dark and quiet

One evening, Jessie, an unemployed epileptic who has had a failed marriage and a son who is deeply troubled, meticulously organises the house and makes other detailed preparations for the future while explaining the changes to Thelma.

At first, Thelma does not immediately notice anything strange. Finally, Jessie asks about where her late father’s pistol is kept, and Thelma tells her. Only after Jessie has returned with the pistol does Thelma begin to wonder about Jessie’s strange behaviour and actions.

The original production of ‘Night, Mother featured Kathy Bates as Jessie and Anne Pitoniak as Thelma at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1982.

Norman was awarded the 1983 Pulitzer Prize, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Hull-Warriner, and Drama Desk Awards for ‘Night Mother, which has grown in stature and importance through the years.

This production made it to Broadway and was nominated for four Tony Awards. The play was also adapted into a film in 1986, starring Sissy Spacek and Anne Bancroft as daughter and mother.

Talking about her role, Sukania, whose recent acting credits include The Year Of No Return (2021), says Thelma is an emotionally-charged character, which really pushes her hard during rehearsals.

“She is quite a challenging role to take on but one that is welcomed as it provides an avenue to portray emotions which I may not do so in my life,” reveals Sukania, 65.

“I mean, she’s an older woman and a mother who has to deal with her daughter’s determination to commit suicide. That’s quite tough. She tries her best to prevent it but is totally helpless in trying to prevent the situation, leaving her feeling defeated and guilt ridden,” she continues.

Anitha, similarly, says Jessie is not an easy role to play. When asked how she entered into the psyche of a troubled woman, Anitha points out that “it may be more of a case of Jessie getting into my psyche.”

“When I first read the script, several years ago, I was pretty blown away by the material. I called a good friend who volunteers with the Befrienders helpline and read paragraphs to him. It explains feelings of despair, which many of their callers would have experienced.

“Then, sometime down the line, my uncle passed away and I went into a state I have never experienced before. It lasted a few months and I hope that experience helps me appreciate better what not just Jessie feels, but also (other) people who struggle with depression,” shares Anitha, 50, whose acting credits include Love Journey – A Nation Of Two (2015) and The Language Archive (2016).

With a script that is harsh, beautiful, and true, director Gui agrees that the show will share a vision of how theatre can best join the conversation surrounding mental health issues, which are topical these days.

“The play does deal with heavy and difficult topics. But it’s also about a mother and daughter relationship. Hopefully, after watching this, audiences will consider their own mental health challenges and their relationship with their mothers,” concludes Gui.

‘Night, Mother is supported by the Cultural Economy Development Agency’s (Cendana) Performing Arts Presentation Funding grant, Five Arts Centre and Enfiniti Academy.

‘Night, Mother plays at PJPac, 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya Selangor from Jan 6-16. More info here.