Raven Theatre’s “A Lie of the Mind,” with Rom Barkhordar and Joan Nahid/Photo: Jenn Udoni of Franco Images
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Sam Shepard’s “A Lie of the Mind,” playing now at the Raven Theatre, begins in the immediate aftermath of a horrific domestic abuse. Left for dead by her husband, Beth (Gloria Imseih Petrelli) awakes in a hospital bed a shattered shell of who she once was. Meanwhile Jake (Ian Maryfield), the husband, appears more shocked than repentant, reaching out to his brother from a payphone. Both spouses then return to their separate homes to recoup with their family, who seem unable to fully process their plight.
First performed in 1985, “A Lie of the Mind” is a three-act play that remains relevant for its stark depiction of family ties and the alienation suffered by those seemingly fated to always be disappointed by others. It is the closing chapter for a quintet of Shepard plays that explore the breakup of the modern family. This production stands out in part for its casting of Beth and her mother as Persian. In doing so, the play establishes the two characters at outsiders both within their family as well as the greater community. It’s a nice touch that affects everything on stage without diminishing the power of the source material in any way.
Raven Theatre’s “A Lie of the Mind,” with Joan Nahid and Gloria Imseih Petrelli/Photo: Jenn Udoni of Franco Images
Both families are very much defined by their absent fathers. Jake’s father is an alcoholic, whose passing may or may not have been his own doing. All that Jake has left of his father are his ashes and the American flag given to him at his funeral, both of which he physically embraces. Beth’s father is a still-living but incredibly aloof figure, Baylor (Rom Barkhordar in a perfectly cast role), who long ago checked out from his family. Bitter over where life has led him, he pines for an ideal wilderness, spending his winter in a deer blind alone, haunting the woods. Beth and Jake each have siblings who try to steer the action on stage to some sort of normalcy. Beth’s brother Mike (Arash Fakhrabadi) channels the rage seemingly missing from Beth’s recollection of events. Jake’s sibling Frankie (John Drea) is a likable and earnest young man who only wants to check in on Beth to see if she is okay.
There is much to recommend in this production, beginning with Gloria Imseih Petrelli’s no-holds-barred depiction of Beth as a woman who fully comprehends what she has lost. Her character grows on stage, eventually occupying a not-healed but fully present Beth. It’s a truly remarkable depiction of a woman making sense of a brain injury. Also impressive is Joan Nahid as Beth’s mom, who uses her outsider status as a Persian woman living in Montana to fully flesh out her sense of alienation. The direction by Azar Kazemi is concise and articulate without any compromises. The effect is a fully realized production that feels fresh and relevant.
“A Lie of the Mind” runs through March 22 at Raven Theatre, 6157 North Clark. Showtimes: Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm; and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $45 (student, military and industry tickets are $20), available at raventheatre.com.
