GHS Double Bill Winter Plays Deal with Women and Their Treatment by Men

Written by Ralph Bologna, Greenwich High School Theater Arts program

This weekend, instead of the usual “Winter Play,” Greenwich High School Theater Arts, under the direction of Richard Kohn, will present two one-act winter plays, both dealing with the issue of women and their treatment by men.

“The Insanity of Mary Girard” by Lanie Robertson is a harrowing drama about a young wife committed to an asylum by her husband in post-Revolutionary War Philadelphia.

The flip side is “The Apollo of Bellac” by Jean Giraudoux, a comic play in which a young woman learns how to get the best of the men around her.

“Mary Girard” is based on the true story of a woman committed to the insanity ward of Pennsylvania Hospital by her husband for 25 years from 1790 until her death. The play, which makes demands on both the cast and tech crew, takes place on Mary’s first night in the facility as Mary is strapped to a chair and tortured, or imagines that she is tortured, by furies who take the form of  important people in her life, including her mother and the owner of the institution. Playwright Robertson studied the actual hospital records when writing the play.

 GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: "The Insanity of Mary Girard”and "Apollo". Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: “The Insanity of Mary Girard”and “Apollo”. Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

 GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: "The Insanity of Mary Girard”and "Apollo". Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: “The Insanity of Mary Girard”and “Apollo”. Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

“Apollo” follows the young woman Agnes as she attempts to navigate the bureaucracy of the “International Bureau of Inventions.” There she meets a disheveled man who provides her with the secret to success in life, with amusing results for Agnes and the staff of the Bureau, up to and including the chairman of the board. It ends the evening on a light note after the intensity of “Mary Girard.”

The ensemble cast includes Lily Bartels, Julia Bayoumi, Ralph Bologna, Delilah Brien, Ellerie Brust, Sophie Chaves, Alan Drew, Stella Frankel, Hannah Ginste, Winn Glaser, Adem Guldal, Brooke Hadden, Lauren Herrera, Joelle Jensen, Katie Jensen, Rachel Kessler, Bryn Kummell, Kate Marchetti, Erin McKay, Maggie Polistina, Erick Ramirez, Sophie Robertson, Catherine Senyonjo, Victor Stroie, Maggie Ullrich, Timothy Valenton, Gabriella Vilas Boas, Jack Wallis, Ben Walker and Josh Winston. Mr. Kohn directs with technical direction by Scott Borowka.


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Come support the talented GHS Theater Arts students in an entertaining and thought provoking evening and to see how these two very different plays actually have many themes in common.

The plays will be presented on Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22 at 7:30, and again the following week on Thursday, February 27 at 6:30, Friday, February 28 at 7:30 and Saturday, February 29 at both 5:00 and 8:00pm. Tickets are $10.00 each.

All performances are in the Greenwich High School Black Box Theater at 10 Hillside Road.

The entrance is in the south parking lot (the first driveway on the left after turning onto Hillside from the Post Road or the last driveway on the right heading south on Hillside.

You can reserve your tickets online.

 GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: "The Insanity of Mary Girard”and "Apollo". Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: “The Insanity of Mary Girard”and “Apollo”. Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

 GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: "The Insanity of Mary Girard”and "Apollo". Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: “The Insanity of Mary Girard”and “Apollo”. Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

 GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: "The Insanity of Mary Girard”and "Apollo". Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: “The Insanity of Mary Girard”and “Apollo”. Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

 GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: "The Insanity of Mary Girard”and "Apollo". Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: “The Insanity of Mary Girard”and “Apollo”. Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

 GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: "The Insanity of Mary Girard”and "Apollo". Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: “The Insanity of Mary Girard”and “Apollo”. Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

 GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: "The Insanity of Mary Girard”and "Apollo". Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: “The Insanity of Mary Girard”and “Apollo”. Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

 GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: "The Insanity of Mary Girard”and "Apollo". Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

GHS theater arts students rehearse for the winter plays in the black box theater: “The Insanity of Mary Girard”and “Apollo”. Feb 20, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager