At the centre of the show is Marich’s week-long stay in a psychiatric ward and the events that led to it. She interweaves her hospitalisation with stories about her relationships, including telling her best friend about her suicide attempt, and the challenges of returning to everyday life when inpatient treatment has not resolved her distress. Her account also addresses the lack of clarity around how to support someone with mental health issues.
Marich raises important issues, particularly the stigma and shame associated with mental illness and the obstacles to finding appropriate care. However, she moves between different parts of her story, limiting the opportunity to understand what Marich went through in the ward and how she has navigated life since. Given the deeply personal nature of the material, spending longer exploring these aspects of her journey could help the audience better appreciate their impact.
A few moments sit apart from the autobiographical narrative, including an interactive classroom scene in which Marich takes on the role of a teacher using flash cards with the audience, a conversation with God, and an infomercial for a Kill Yourself Kit. While these introduce a different theatrical style, they contrast with the way the rest of the work is structured and presented. Removing or reworking them could allow March to delve further into her story and give the more personal content room to breathe.
Marich’s willingness to share such difficult experiences makes Please Help Me! a valuable contribution to conversations about mental health, the barriers to seeking support and how best to help someone who is struggling. There is much here that deserves to be heard, and with a more focused approach, the show could unpack its subject matter in greater depth.
Please Help Me! was performed at Underground Upstairs between 6 - 11 October.
Image credit: Dawn Jeffrey
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