Rough Outline

Not a Skit: Maddie, Phoebe, Abby, Alex

Overall take: a play about mental illness (depression/anxiety) that addresses the
aftermath and struggles of caring for someone who doesnt have an illness that is easily
seen
Characters:
o Beth: the mother of the two girls who only acknowledges Susan because
she needs more attention due to her mental illness
o Susan: daughter of Beth and sister of Chloe-- affected by depression;
distant, cold, and upset most of the time
o Chloe: daughter of Beth and sister of Susan-- cares for Susan a majority
of the time; is bothered by the fact that their mother does not pay as much
attention to her
o Jen: close friend of Chloe; slowly becomes more distant with Chloe
because she does not fully understand the situation; very ignorant and
misinformed (because society does not address mental illness enough)
(Working) Storyline:
Beth, the mother, loves her two daughters dearly, but does not give them equal
attention. Susan, by default, needs more attention and care because she is
prescribed a mental illness. Beth is overbearing and overcaring to the point of
being not genuine.
o How do we equally love one another? Is that even possible?
Susan is affected by depression; her thoughts constantly nag at her. She has an
internal struggle which she has trouble figuring out. She notices not a lot of
people address mental illness, like there is some kind of unspoken stigma with
mental illness.
o Why is society so uncomfortable with mental illness? Is it because we
cannot physically see what its doing to a person?
Susans illness becomes far more severe and so Beth must become her full time
caregiver and support system. As her condition worsens, Beth calls on Susan to
come home and help. Beth is older and does not many resources to call upon, so
the strain of caring for a mentally ill individual is a great burden.
Chloe, Susans younger sister, comes home from Seattle (she works there now-
she just started working there and has a small apartment there, bright future, just
graduated from business college) in order to support her mother and sister.
The play focuses on Chloes experience coping with an unstable sister and
aging, distracted mother.
Jen represents an outsider, a contrast to the reality of the family.

Questions:
What is someones moral responsibility during a family tragedy?
Chloe had to put her life on hold in order to care for her family. We want the audience to
think about what their decision would be in they were in this situation.
Who should be pitied: Beth, Chloe, or Susan?