Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

night, Mother by Marsha Norman

6 reviews

meganx4499's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Death, Suicide attempt, Confinement, and Suicidal thoughts

jordanblakekey's review

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

‘Night, Mother is an intense and emotional two person drama about a mother and her suicidal daughter. It is set at the mother’s home, where the daughter lives to take care of her. The entire play is one scene, and an intense conversation that honestly discusses the faults of their lives. 

The one-scene full play model isn’t necessarily my personal favorite, and I don’t love how it almost justifies suicide. However, I do commend it on its honestly and how it handles character driven drama. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Addiction

nagoatsis's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Self harm, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, and Grief

jaid's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

Just...yea...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide

tacita's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Mental illness

davidbythebay's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Reread: Oct. 26, 2021  (TW: suicide, death, disability-epilepsy symptoms discussed)

This was a brilliant play (and movie with Anne Bancroft and Sissy Spacek) when I read it 20 years ago for the first time. It was even more brilliant and lovely today. In those 20 years I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, attempted suicide a few times, and had my good times and bad times. At present, I am stable and happy. But I know what Jessie is saying and feeling deep within me. 

This is a play that moves with constant action even though the two women (a mother and daughter) don’t do too much in the living room, kitchen, and home. It’s a closed setting that feels almost claustrophobic, even through it’s just a hone. (Then again 2020/2021 pandemic kind of made a home feel very claustrophobic.) 

The themes are heavy. The topics are heavy. The conclusion is heavy. This is not a light hearted family romp. This is an embattled woman and her mother having heated arguments about dark topics in grim sometimes black-humor spurts. There is heart and love, grief, longing, a range more of emotions. 

If you can handle this play, it is one I highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death

Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Medical content, and Self harm