Coming from a 2nd world country, I have not seen many Avant-garde performances. However, I recently viewed a play at the Louisiana State University, which was a part of their experimental Lab show series. 4.48 Psychosis is a play by British playwright Sarah Kane, directed by Angelle Mishon and starred such actors as Gabby Broussard, Elizabeth Harding, Kiana Naquin and Jaunee Young. This particular play is a very complicated piece in many aspects: there is no specific setting where the event takes place, it can be staged with one person or with two-three more, the conversation turns from a monologue into a dialogue, confessions become at some point poetic version of schizophrenia.
            The first time when I heard of this play was during one of the classes of Script Analysis, where we were discussing another play by Sarah Kane, Cleansed. The discussion, as the play itself, was in regard of suicide, painful love, tortures and drug addiction. One talk led to another and eventually we ended up looking at some lines from the 4.48 Psychosis.On the first glimpse, I assumed that it must be performed as a one-man show: thoughts that are said out loud, some dialogue with the audience and maybe some props on the stage with the actor. So, when I was on my way to the actual performance, my expectations were very basic and simple. What a pleasant surprise it was to experience such an experimental piece of art in the proposed way by Angelle. Not only text division between four actors was very clear and meaningful, but also their transitions or simultaneous execution was very well directed. Character’s costumes and actor’s diversity brought additional touch to the play. What I really enjoyed besides variety of voice choices, costumes, actor’s work and light were directorial choices. Such as recorded actor’s voices and edited in robotic style. Or silk implementation throughout the play, especially for the dramatic moment of committing a suicide. The only props (besides silk and a big geometrical cube) were medications that characters kind of advertised in the scene. I thought it was a very interesting choice, which added a tint of comedy to the whole dramatic mood. 
            Even though the show was just one hour long, but with such complex script and plot, initially I was expecting it to feel as much longer. Not once I was anticipating the end of it. My overall experience changed my expectations from “I have to watch it to write a paper” into “OMG, I am so glad I didn’t miss it!” 

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