CMU School of Drama


Monday, February 19, 2024

Processing grief through withdrawal and writing in ‘I Love You So Much I Could Die’ at Off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop

DC Theater Arts: When several attempts with group therapy sessions, volunteering for a charitable organization, reading books, and a say-what-you-see out-loud exercise (picked up from actor Shia LaBeouf) to take her mind off her omnipresent grief didn’t succeed in alleviating the pain of a devastating family trauma that occurred in March 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, playwright and performer Mona Pirnot decided that the best release would be to write it down in stories and song.

1 comment:

Ella McCullough said...

I love creative shows like this. I am someone who often turns to theater when I need to process difficult or deep topics. I find that processing through art is number one easier and number two a beautiful way to connect to others that are feeling the same way. I liked that this was such a personal story and doesn't run from that. I like the way she faces away from the audience because it gives this sense that everyone including both the actor and the audience are watching and experiencing the same thing. I also really liked the description of the lighting design. I think my favorite designs are the ones that happen slowly over time so they might be missed at first but they end up having this huge impact on the audience such as leaving them in an empty house with only the computer screen and lamp for light. That is so incredibly powerful and when added to everything else I am picturing a stunning yet impactful show that I would love to see.