[NEohioPAL]Berko review: 4 MINUTES TO HAPPY (CPT), ODT

[Roy Berko]

MORTON EXPOSES PERSONAL BOUT WITH DEPRESSION AT CPT;
OBT TO DANCE ‘WHO CARES’

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Dance
Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

As a mental health professional I have often had
clients report persistent sadness, anxiety, or feeling
“empty.”  Others report  feelings of hopelessness,
pessimism, guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness.
Everyone knows what it's like to feel sad, down, or
"blue" from time to time, but when these feelings
continue for two weeks or more, and are accompanied by
certain other physical and mental symptoms, the
condition is classified as a Major Depressive
Disorder, commonly known as depression.

Depression is a serious medical illness that is
reported to affect over 14 million people a year in
the United States. It is thought to be caused by an
imbalance of brain chemicals.  It can happen on its
own or can be triggered by a stressful or traumatic
event. The good news is that depression can be
successfully treated.  The general process is to
prescribe an anti-depressant in tandem with short-term
psychotherapy.  

Unfortunately, only 1 in 10 depressive people seek the
professional help they need -- often because they
don't know the symptoms, think depression will go away
on its own, or are embarrassed to talk about how
they're feeling.

So, what does this have to do with ‘4 MINUTES TO
HAPPY,” now on stage at Cleveland Public Theatre? 
Sarah Morton, who serves both as the author and the
solo performer, has based the story on her life, the
life of a person with depression.  We watch Morton go
through the throes of agoraphobia when she refuses to
leave her apartment, goes to a doctor but refuses to
take the medicine, breaks up a relationship but is not
sure why, applies for the Peace Corps as an attempt to
get away from her reality, and, in a final act of
desperation contemplates suicide.  She is supposedly
“saved” by a mood change brought about by hearing
Naughty by Nature’s “Hip Hop Hooray.”

There is good and bad news in Morton’s script.  She
seems to have faced her depression and through this
writing come to an understanding of her illness.  She
also brings attention to the topic of depression.  In
addition, the program and lobby information alerts the
audience to the extent and seriousness of the topic.

On the other hand, viewers may perceive that the
curative process for depression is simple...listen to
the right music and voila, you’re cured.  If anyone
who is depressed thinks this is the case, there could
be some serious repercussions.

Morton’s performance is excellent.  She is totally
natural and believable.  We see her go through the
throughs of the illness as she exposes us to not only
her dark moods, but the roles played by the people in
her life.  She makes us want to reach out and grab her
off the window ledge as she contemplates suicide.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  Morton’s script, using humor and
drama, is a good device for exposing an audience to
the subject of depression.  Her performance skills
effectively develop her life experiences.

‘4 MINUTES TO HAPPY’ runs through March 13 at
Cleveland Public Theatre.  For tickets call
216-631-2727

OHIO DANCE THEATRE PERFORMS AT OHIO THEATRE

The Oberlin based Ohio Dance Theatre has received
permission to perform the George Balanchine ballet,
‘WHO CARES,’ which is  performed to the music of
George Gershwin.    ‘WHO CARES’ portrays an exuberance
that contains the distinctive energy of Manhattan. 
New York City Ballet dancer Amanda Edge will join the
ODT dancers for the company’s Spring Performance at
Playhouse Square.  The performance will take place at
the Ohio Theatre on Friday, April 8 at 8 PM.  Tickets,
which range from $22 to $27 can be obtained by calling
216-241-6000, 800-766-6048 or going on line to
www.playhousesquare.com.


Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.


	
		
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