New play by Frank Otis
MELBOURNE—As part of his recovery from a traumatic background of sexual assault and psychiatric illness, Frank Otis wrote his first play, And now I lay me down to sleep, which was produced last year and played to packed houses. (It will begin a season at La Mama on July 30.)
His new play, Behind these walls, which begins its season on May 2, picks up from where the first play ended, but Otis points out that you don't need to have seen the first play to understand the second. "Within the first two minutes, you will pick up what is going on", he says.
Lee, the main character of both plays is, like Otis, a rape survivor. In Behind these walls he is in a psychiatric ward, almost emotionally destroyed by the incest perpetrated by his father during his childhood.
Lee has built a complex fantasy world to deal with the trauma. However, the hospital is about to be closed down, and the patients decide to fight back, forcing Lee to come to terms with reality.
The play is directed by Chris Gaffney, who has 25 years of experience as an actor and director in theatre, film and TV. He is the director of Melton Theatre Company and has had a long association with New Theatre.
Assistant director Carrie English, from Brunswick Women's Theatre, has had considerable experience with improvisational theatre in England. Gaffney, Otis and English also have roles in the play, along with 13 other actors. Original music was written by David Otis, Frank's brother.
Behind these walls will be performed at the Footscray Community Arts Centre May 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10 at 8pm. Tickets are $12/$7; for bookings phone (03) 9689 5677.