Commerical Appeal, 1994

Our Own Voice gives more than act: 'Walking Realities'

by JON HAMILTON

On stage, mental illness is just an act to the members of Our Own Voice Theatre Troupe.

Offstage, the disease is frighteningly real to the troupe's nine players, eight have a mental illness. Some have spent extended periods in the hospital. Others battle tremors and other side effects of long-term medication.

In its productions, the troupe attempts to give audiences an insider's view of mental illness. It is a perspective that includes both biting humor about the mental health system and poigniant descriptions of the pain of mental illness.

"We used to have 'breakdowns'; now we have 'episodes,"' says Crazy the Clown in the troupe's current production, Walking Realities. Later, Crazy recalls that when mental illness struck, "My friends turned against me. My family turned against me."

Walking Realities is a 30-minute collection of vignettes based on the experiences of cast members. It tells the story, Crazy says, of "a person who was unfortunate enough to live in the wrong reality."

The vignettes include an encounter with a pill-pushing doctor, musical numbers such as the "psycho rap," and a dancing refrigerator.

After each show, the troupe members answer questions from the audience and speak about the challenges faced by people with mental illness.

Don Boyette, who plays Crazy and is the show's executive producer, said the production provides an opportunity to show audiences that mentally ill people are individuals, not stereotypes.

"It makes people aware," he said.

"It's mostly a chance to come forward and remove the stigma," said Douglas Scott, who plays the doctor in Walking Realities. "It's helped me with a lot of problems in my life."

Our Own Voice began in 1991 as a project to give people with mental illness a chance to express themselves, said Bill Baker, a psychiatric social worker with a theater background who helped launch the group.

"We did not want the 'poster child' repsentation of mental illness," Baker said " We want a more realistic representation."

Initially, performances were intended for mental health professionals and consumers, Baker said. But this year, he said, the troupe has begun performing for schools, churches and commiinity groups.

"We find those audiences very exciting because you can see a whole world of discovery," he said.

The troupe has attracted support, from such sources as the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Memphis Arts Council and Target Stores. It is sponsored bv the Paired to Care Program of the Niental Health Association of Memphis and Shelby County.

Our Own Voice members create a new show each summer and give 10 to 15 performances a year, most during the fall, Baker said. Groups interested in arranging a performance of Walking Realities should contact the Mental Health Association at 323-0633.

Photo by Dave Darnell
Artistic consultant Bill Baker (front right) leads a rehearsal before a performance by Our Own Voice Theatre Troupe. From left, are Douglas Keith Scott, Randy Youngblood, Beulah Harris and Don Boyette (behind Baker).