Celebrate Valentine's Day at this world premiere "seriocomedy" about coping with divorce. 'Psychodrama,' written by a playwright/therapist, begins its run at Dreamcatcher Rep Feb. 14.
A rage addict, a door mat, a cheat and a denier walk into a divorce support group. “Psychodrama” ensues.
That’s the premise and title of playwright/psychotherapist Phoebe Farber‘s new play, which will have its world premiere at Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre and run through March 3.
Psychodrama is a form of mental health treatment and not, as some may assume, simply dealing with a person who has a flair for hyperbole. The modality uses elements of theater to dramatize incidents from a person’s life to initiate psychological change. Farber was inspired after attending a workshop on the therapy.
“It has a lot of dramatic potential,” said Farber, who noted that all of the characters in the show are fictional and not based on any past or current patients. “I’m interested in micro-human moments. The plays I write are about interaction or missed communication or intimacy. They often end up being about people seeking connection with each other.”
The show unfolds over eight weeks of group sessions held in the basement of a Unitarian church. The participants think they’re going to sit and talk as they had during earlier meetings.
They’re surprised when a new group leader brings in a lot of new ideas. The show has been in development for several years in the Lab at Luna Stage and has had readings at Writers Theatre of N.J. and Dreamcatcher. Its being shepherded through its opening run by veteran director Betsy True.
“Telling contemporary stories is central to what we do,” said Laura Ekstrand, Dreamcatcher’s Artistic Director. “I want to present things people are living through or thinking about right now. Not that you couldn’t do that with classic plays, but we prefer things that are popping out of someone’s head right now.”
Dreamcatcher is marketing the show as a “seriocomedy.” In part, the comedy comes from the coping methods the new leader is bringing to her class, including dancing around the room and activities with scarves and balls.
“The exercises are utterly ridiculous and we’re gradually surprised when it facilitates some real breakthroughs,” said Ekstrand, who is also a member of Dreamcatcher’s ensemble and an actor in the show. “There’s some real emotion as we discover some habits that are sabotaging us. In life and in plays, it’s easier for people on the outside to see what your problem is than it is for you to see.”
Farber said she didn’t set out to write comedy but any true-to-life story has elements of humor.
“Most of our lives as human beings are ridiculous, outrageous and meaningful and profound all at the same time,” Farber said. “One minute something’s profound, the next minute is outrageous.”
The playwright ultimately hopes audience members leave the show having felt a connection with the people on stage.
“I hope they will feel the people are real people and they were really moved by what they went through and there was some element of catharsis seeing real humanity on stage,” Farber said. “I hope they feel they are watching human truth they can relate to. For me, that’s the whole purpose of theater, that cathartic transformative experience.”
PSYCHODRAMA
Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre
120 Morris Ave, Summit
Tickets: $ 30-35, available online at https://www.dreamcatcherrep.org. Feb. 14 – March 3.
Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.