A vital and humorous insight into one of the world’s most misunderstood mental health diagnoses
Bea P. Deigh is written and performed by Arden Winant, an actor and writer originally from NYC. This production exploring the experiences of those diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder had its run at The Pen Theatre from 16th – 20th January. A small independent theatre in Bermondsey, this is an intimate venue, and well-suited to Winant’s largely one woman play.
Irish Actor Daniel Keogh stars alongside Winant as a janitor working at The Brain, Inc., – the headquarters inside the mind of each individual. The play is produced by Hannah Jayne, and directed by Grainne Robson and this small team does a good job of bringing Winant’s vision to life.
The show centres around Bea P. Deigh, a secretary who has just started work at the offices inside the brain of a woman living with Borderline Personality Disorder. This is a useful setup, and allows Winant to convey well the experience of a brain at war with itself.
Much of the material is drawn from Winant’s own experiences of being diagnosed with BPD, and she switches between the characters of Bea P. Deigh, and apparently, herself, – the individual living with this condition. Bea represents the humour, the sarcasm, the darkly cynical and self-destructive sides of ourselves, and Winant’s character speaks directly to the audience, often movingly, about the struggles and suffering she has experienced throughout her life living with this condition. The fact that much of the material is autobiographical is clear, the honesty and truth of Winant’s experiences are palpable to the audience. Of course, the clever ploy of switching between two characters who are both the same person, and not, in a show about Borderline Personality Disorder, deserves credit.
Keogh is excellent as the quiet, kind janitor who works in the office, towards whom Bea is initially scathing, and through whom she later learns to trust and accept help, although perhaps the scene where this is played out labours the point a little.
Overall, I have to applaud the show’s intention to bring to light a diagnosis which is deeply stigmatised, and that women and girls are disproportionately diagnosed with. However, recent literature demonstrating the many problems surrounding the diagnosis and definition of BPD itself, (e.g. Dr Jessica Taylor’s Sexy but Psycho) including some deeply misogynistic ideas that underpin the origin of this diagnosis, meant I found some of the messages more difficult to swallow. Talking about and representing personal experiences of mental health is always difficult, as so many people have their own differing experiences and opinions, and connecting with a wider audience over something so specific is nigh on impossible. Ultimately, the performance falls down on these points, and is prone to falling into cliche. Nevertheless, spotlighting the diagnosis of BPD is an admirable, necessary and courageous move from Winant. Hats off to her.