Orange You Mad?

An orange is orange. Period. Anyone who says otherwise is insane, pure and simple… or, perhaps, from a different culture. In Joe Penhall’s play, Blue/Orange, the question of cultural relativity versus mental illness erupts into a power struggle at a London psychiatric hospital. Christopher, a black patient thought bonkers for...

By Jason Budjinski

April 27, 2006

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An orange is orange. Period. Anyone who says otherwise is insane, pure and simple… or, perhaps, from a different culture. In Joe Penhall’s play, Blue/Orange, the question of cultural relativity versus mental illness erupts into a power struggle at a London psychiatric hospital. Christopher, a black patient thought bonkers for claiming to be the son of an African dictator, is scheduled to be released. That is, until Dr. Flaherty decides Christopher’s color confusion warrants further treatment. But another psychiatrist, Dr. Smith, disagrees, arguing that Christopher’s problem is nothing more than culture shock (and there’s no such thing as culture shock treatment). So who’s right in this game of psychiatric tug-of-war? Perhaps sanity is less a matter of cultural relativism than doctor’s orders. The Promethean Theatre’s production of Blue/Orange opens at 8 p.m. Friday at Nova Southeastern University’s Mailman Hollywood Theatre (3301 College Ave., Davie). Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Call 786-317-7580, or visit www.theprometheantheatre.org.
April 28-May 14

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