8 Women in an Asylum in 1939

That is the premise of Chamber Music.
That is an interesting place to inhabit.

Exploring the reality of that place is the work we as a group have just begun,
and it's going to be an exciting trip.
Some of Olympia's strongest talent has been brought together to bring this
thought provoking, frightening, yet often funny piece of theater to life.
It is obvious this is going to be one wild ride.

The playwright, Arthur Kopit has put together quite the parfait, there are layers
upon so many delicious layers. So many questions. Who are these women?
Why are they in this institution? What do they really believe?

Choices, so many choices...

Each actor must decide if their character is one of the many women of the period
who were cast off, locked away simply because they didn't fit the societal norm,
which was despicably common, or IS their character dealing with actual mental illness.
If so, what is their affliciton, and where on the spectrum are they?
That's savory stuff for any actor to chew on. When questions like those
are dealt with and fleshed out, even if those questions are not asked in the text
of the script, it translates into dynamic performances. Last night was our first real
rehearsal, those questions were already being asked and dealt with. It is exciting and heady stuff.

If that was not enough of tasty treat, these characters each have alter egos.
So in addition to the usual character work we must explore the truth of the
women that the inmates have chosen as their facades.

Layers upon layers...