A Lie of the Mind explores the destinies of two desperate families, linked by marriage but set apart by jealousies and distrust after a severe incident of spousal abuse leaves all their lives altered. Tensions and enmities that motivate the two families grow increasingly disturbing and dangerous over the course of this three act play. Filled with themes of memories, violence and family, this winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award is described by the The New York Times as a “blurred collective sense of self that anyone who has been part of a family is going to identify with."

The Story

The Reason

MALINDA L. BECKHAM, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

As our third season comes to a close, I am reminded of the many moments of beauty, pain, excitement, and laughter that it has brought us. Our season 3 opener, Talk Radio, held up a mirror to our current society, revealing the lunacy, pettiness, and hypocrisy prevalent in our hyper media-driven world. Bringing the callers of Barry’s radio show into the open revealed them not as fodder for his late-night audience, but real people, with real struggles, yearning for a human connection.

Valentine’s Day brought us the wicked AF (All Female) Boston Marriage, not your average David Mamet comedy. Set against a backdrop of early 20th Century America, Anna and Claire raged against societal norms as they struggled to carve out their own piece of happiness. Jealousy, lust,

and true love were presented in luxurious pink splendor, reminding us that some issues are simply timeless and that in the desire to connect ourselves to someone else, we sometimes lose sight of our own offerings.

A Lie of the Mind is a fitting close to this season, tying together themes from our earlier selections. The marriage of Jake and Beth is doomed by tragic passion and broken by an act of domestic violence. As their families try to heal themselves and each other, they all try to connect to something or someone. Some succeed, while others struggle in their solitude, longing to be heard in their silence.

With the close of Season 3 comes the announcement of Season 4! Making up our 2019–2020 season, we are offering three plays by three American playwrights, including two regional premieres. Issues of race, addiction, power, and love will be brought to the surface in these contemporary stories.

Thank you for joining us, and for your support of Dirt Dogs Theatre Co.