The iconic memoir "Girl, Interrupted" has been adapted into an off-Broadway musical at The Public Theater. Starring Juliana Canfield and King Princess, the production transforms Susanna Kaysen's fragmented account of her 1960s psychiatric facility stay into a memory play, exploring themes of mental health, community, and self-discovery with elegant folk music and powerful performances.
The article details the journey of "Girl, Interrupted," Susanna Kaysen's bestselling 1993 memoir, into an off-Broadway musical. Premiering at New York's Public Theater, the adaptation stars Tony nominee Juliana Canfield as Susanna and pop star King Princess in her stage debut as Lisa. While acknowledging James Mangold's 1999 film, the theatrical production draws solely from the book, chronicling Kaysen's two-year stay in a psychiatric facility in the late 1960s. Producer Angelica Zollo, inspired by the memoir's impact on young women and mental health literature, spearheaded the project. Pulitzer-winning playwright Martyna Majok adapted the material, facing the challenge of transforming Kaysen's fragmented, non-linear narrative into a "dramatic propulsive piece of theater" while honoring its unique style. The musical is framed as a memory play, toggling between older and younger Susanna, with a minimalist set reflecting the institutional setting. Aimee Mann initially provided music, later releasing her songs as an album. The cast explores five female patients, including King Princess's portrayal of Lisa as a "mischievous sociopath" with a unique physicality. The show features elegant folk music, with cast members playing instruments and harmonizing, and understated choreography. Despite heavy themes like mental illness and suicide, it incorporates moments of levity. The article highlights the enduring relevance of the material, with King Princess drawing parallels between the 1960s societal anxieties and today's challenges, especially regarding mental health discourse and community. The adaptation also features a queer moment, distinct from the film's. Ultimately, the musical serves as an "evergreen reminder" that navigating youth and struggle is universal, and one is "not alone."
