Two plays, two psychological malfunctions — so little time. I could have easily spent another few hours at NEUROfest, a festival which explores art’s ever-devoted companion — mental illness — through original plays. In fact, NEUROfest’s presentation of Strangers and Linguish has captivated me to the point where I’m gunning to buy a “NeuroPass” to the other productions. Strangers, though predictable, is an extremely well-acted and poignant study of amnesia but Linguish — a witty look at aphasia (the fascinating, terrifying neurological condition that robs one’s ability to use language) — is the real star of the twin performances. The play is worth seeing for the brilliant ensemble alone, but the inventive bit of scientific license that describes the disease as an insidious virus is really what makes this show remarkable. What happens when the words that shape our existence are lost, garbled, parroted or impossible to control? What if it’s catching? Don’t expect concrete answers, but do expect to walk out of the show reevaluating what it really means to speak. Can’t wait to see the play about Tourette’s.
