From a letter the anonymous writer sent to her local theater company:
We thoroughly enjoyed the play, the performers mixing with the audience, and all aspects of the musical, Nunsense. It was hilarious. Great job all of you.
Something happened at the performance I think you’ll find interesting. At the beginning of the show, the actress, Sister Mary Hubert, asked, “Is anyone in the audience Catholic?”
My husband of one year raised his hand. Sister Mary Hubert chatted with him and said, “We’re giving you a medallion of the Patron Saint of Mental Illness — Saint Dymphna.” As Sister Mary Amnesia (I do love that name) handed him the medallion, Sister Mary Hubert declared, “You will be safe from mental illness.”
The audience laughed but my husband and I laughed harder. You see, my dear husband spent many years in an institution because of a mental disorder. This December, he will have been out of that institution for three years. His experience molded him into a most amazing man who has unlimited love and a caring attitude toward his fellow human beings.
The play with the medallion was a heartwarming, hilarious, and unforgettable event for us. Hope our story makes you smile.
Follow up:
We recently attended The Miracle Worker at same community theater. I was introduced to the president of the theater’s board of directors. I asked her if she had received a letter regarding a particular performance of Nunsense. Her face lit up. She asked, “Did you write that letter?” I replied, “Yes.” She told me how excited everyone was about the letter and that it was read to all the cast members and to the board. I said, “The gentleman mentioned in the letter is in attendance. Would you like to meet him?” She replied, “Yes, and the actress who spoke with him from the stage is here, too.”
The woman went to find her cast member, Sister Mary Hubert, while I told my husband he was wanted. The three of them met and my husband said, “I have bipolar disorder.”
Sister Mary Hubert replied, “Me, too.”
Such broad grins, warm hearts, and teary eyes that night.
There are some new beginnings and happy endings. Have hope that there will be more. This blog is a start in the right direction. Thank you so much, Dede, and all who post.