By: Adelina Fabiano
Honest and heartfelt performance at the Toronto Fringe
A topic we probably often read about in private, but not talked about openly, mental illness is the theme of Psycho Bitch, a one woman show, playing in the Solo Room at the Randolph Center for the Arts. It is about accepting oneself and accepting those close to you. Psycho Bitch, speaks to all of us, whether we admit it or not.
Tamara Lynn Robert gives an emotional, raw and genuine performance as the young woman suffering from a mood disordered illness. She starts off the show by involving the audience in a little guessing game, “What is my diagnosis”? We are then introduced to her cat Pablo and imaginary friend and guardian angel Geraldine.
Whether it is anxiety, fear, paranoia, Bi-polar disorder, manic depression, obsessive compulsive, or any other related mental illness, Tamara takes us on a journey in her character’s mind and shares with us her experiences trying to cope and cure her illness.
The set is simple, as are most Fringe shows. We are given a glimpse of Tamara’s lonely room-a clothes screen, a red dress she wears on dates, a chair and table with a phone. It is here at her night stand, a deeply sad moment in the show, where Tamara consoles her friend attempting suicide.
Drawn from her own personal experiences working in social services and health, Tamara Lynn Robert captures the truth and reality of a person trying to diagnose their mental illness and their need to be accepted and loved despite their circumstance.
Well-written, with music often interspersed throughout the piece, this show is a tribute to those living with a disorder. It gives them voice. It gives them justice. But most of all, it reminds us that sometimes the greatest cure we can give someone, is love.
Details:
–Psycho Bitch is playing at The Randolph Center for the Arts in the Solo Room located at 736 Bathurst Street
-Performances will take place onFriday July 2nd at 4:45pm, Sat. July 3rd at 10:15pm, Sun. July 4th at 2:45pm,Tues. July 6th at 8:30pm, Wed. July 7th at 6:30pm, Fri. July 9th at 10:30pm, and Sat. July 10th at 8pm. Show runs for about 50 minutes.
– All individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only). Tickets are available online at www.fringetoronto.com, by Phone at 416-966-1062, in person at The Randolph Centre for the Arts, 736 Bathurst Street (Advance tickets are $11 ($10+$1 convenience fee)
– Several money-saving passes are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows
Photograph of Tamara Lynn Robert taken by Sean Barker