In Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman in Mind, the action begins in a woman’s garden and ends in her mind. The journey is fascinating in the marvelous production by Albion Theatre.

The title character is Susan, a middle-aged English housewife. “Throughout the play,” Ayckbourn writes in a stage direction, “we will hear what she hears; see what she sees. A subjective viewpoint therefore and one that may at times be somewhat less than accurate.”

She is returning to consciousness at the start of the play after knocking herself out by stepping on a rake. A doctor, Bill Windsor, is tending to her, but she hears what he says as gibberish. He slowly begins making sense, but Susan resists his effort to call an ambulance.

When Bill steps away, Susan’s family enters the garden—her husband Andy, her brother Tony, and her daughter, Lucy. They are the smartest of the smart set: dapper, witty, charming. Costume designer Tracey Newcomb puts them in stylish, sporty attire that contrasts strongly with the drab, polka-dotted dress Susan is wearing. Andy does not want Susan to go the hospital because they would “all be lost” without her.

Andy and the others leave before Bill returns. He is surprised to hear what Susan thinks her garden and family look like. The family Bill knows about has none of the other’s sparkle. The Reverend Gerald Gannet, Susan’s husband, is a dry-as-dust vicar writing the history of his parish since 1386. Muriel, Susan’s sister-in-law is a pill. Gerald announces that the couple’s son, Rick, has arrived for lunch. He has been living with a religious group and has not seen or spoken with his parents in two years.

Which of Susan’s families is real? Why would anyone with an exciting family imagine a dull one?

In the second act, Susan’s fantasies cast a wider net, bringing her two families together. The action is surprisingly funny as Susan loses her grip on reality. Finding the humor in Susan’s descent into madness without trivializing it is an astonishing achievement for Ayckbourn.

The Albion cast performs brilliantly. Emily Baker is mesmerizing as Susan, continually conveying the inner workings of her mind as she experiences elation, disappointment, bewilderment, and distress. Baker’s ability to change her appearance is remarkable as Susan struggles to understand what is happening to her.

Susan’s dream family is a delight in the portrayals by Isaiah Di Lorenzo as Andy, Joseph Garner as Tony, and Sarah Vallo. They heighten their performances to precisely the right degree to distinguish Susan’s fantasy life from her ordinary existence. Their concern for Susan seems genuine when she is drawn away from them.

Susan’s other family is tellingly depicted by Matt Hanify as the dour Gerald, Susan Wylie as the exasperating Muriel, and Ryan Lawson-Maeske as the difficult Rick. The performers make it clear why Susan might want a break from her everyday life.

Danny Brown is splendid as Bill, the well-meaning, solicitous, doctor who is out of his element as a substitute for Susan’s regular physician. All the performers are wonderful comedians as Susan’s deepening mental crisis changes their characters.

Erik Kuhn’s scenic design and Gwynneth Rausch props create a wide, pleasant acting area that is used with assurance in Robert Ashton’s asture direction. Michelle Zielinski’s lighting and Jacob Baxley sound respond what is going on in Susan’s mind.

“Woman in Mind” continues through June 23 at the Kranzberg Black Box Theatre, 501 North Grand Boulevard

—Gerry Kowarsky

Photo by John Lamb
From the left, Emily Baker as Susan and Isaiah Di Lorenzo as Andy in Woman in Mind.