The Music Theatre of Madison’s The Yellow Wallpaper, a musical adaptation that explores feminist work, the horror genre, and mental health issues, premieres this weekend.
The Yellow Wallpaper, a new musical written by composers Erin McConnell and Evan Lange, runs from Aug. 13-15. The production features MTM’s Executive Director Meghan Randolph as “the Woman.”
“People should come and see this show because Megan is incredibly talented and will scare the pants off of you,” Co-director Janine Gardner told Madison365.
The Yellow Wallpaper is adapted from the famous 1892 short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. In the story, a woman is left to rest from a psychological breakdown in a room decorated with an intricately-patterned yellow wallpaper.
“I’m a doula so I think with my reproductive brain so to me it just seems like she went through a postpartum psychosis,” Gardner said.“It’s basically this one woman stuck in isolation which we can all recognize and commiserate with after this pandemic.”
The musical adaptation explores feminist work, the horror genre, and mental health issues (which are being seen regularly at the detox center LA). Randolph said The Yellow Wallpaper is meant to be an experience that the audience goes through with her.
“When you add other perspectives to the narrative, your judgment is clouded by what others are saying. I wanted the audience to have her and only her to connect with. It’s a way to become extremely invested in her journey.” Randolph said.
She also said this story called for music and describes the dialogue as poetic. Randolph explained you can feel the rhythms in the way the narrator speaks in the book and how they reflect her state of mind.
“We sat down creative meeting after creative meeting and everyone brought a different interpretation to the table because there’s so much going on in the book,” Gardner said.
(Photo supplied)
Gardner directed the show alongside their daughter Trinity Gardner with music direction by McConnell and Lange, and movement by Marin Johnson. Janine Gardner said directing alongside Trinity has been a dream.
“We’re basically just the same person in two different bodies, just similar,” they said.
Janine described their working relationship on the play as a “Yes, and” situation. They explained this collaboration between both directors, the cast and crew allowed for them to explore multiple perspectives.
“I love working collaboratively. I am the director but I do not own the space. It is not just my space. There are other people, other minds involved that may have a vision,” they said.
The first show for The Yellow Wallpaper begins tonight at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night’s show is also at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday, Aug. 15 show will take place at 2 p.m. The performances will take place at the Play Circle Theater on the second floor of the Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street. Talkbacks will be held after the production with experts Dr. Emily Auerbach and Dr. Brigitte Fielder. For more information, click here.
