My overall impression
A Picnic at the Asylum is a touching an honest look into Angela Neff’s relationship with her larger-than-life bi-polar father. She aptly transitions between all the characters in what feels like a vignette of childhood memories. Although well written, the text seems like a better fit for prose or even transformed into visuals for a film. Each scene is detailed and descriptive but not very theatrical.
That being said, this is definitely a compelling story, told and performed with ease by Neff. Director Mark Kenward lets the text speak for itself and trusts Neff to simply tell her story.
For anyone who has had a difficult relationship with a parent (lets be honest, most of us have) this is definitely a must see. Her realization that her father isn’t necessarily the enchanting man of her childhood is both brave and very real. Both her love and animosity for the man in the asylum urges us to look the crazed in the eye. That manic homeless man on the street? Well, he may be someone’s father.
