ATARAXI

“ATARAXI” is an original play written by Ole Miss grad-student, Kacie Reilly. It premiered at Marymount Manhattan College on December 1, 2018 as part of a bi-annual original works festival. The production starred Megan Reilly O’Neill as ‘Clara’ and Michael Whitty as ‘Gabriel’, two patients in dystopian PTSD recovery facility; and Clarissa Rodriguez as ‘McAlister’, the physician employed in their recovery. The production was directed by internationally acclaimed playwright and director, Matthew Earnest (The Lunar Strategem, English Theatre Berlin, “New York Times” Critics Pick, etc.").

“ATARAXI” asks the question “If you could do it all over, forget everything, and fix the past… Would you?” The year is 2066 and memory is understood, doctors have figured out a process by which they are capable of erasing an individuals recollections of the past in order to assist them in healing from trauma or anxiety in pursuit of living a happy life. Clara, a longterm patient at the facility due to her “damn, un-sticky brain”, has no idea who she was yesterday or a year before; that is, until Gabriel shows up. He triggers something in her, resurfacing details from her past, and forcing her to question whether the price of healing worth losing her own being. “ATARAXI” is a poignant piece examining what the meaning of happiness truly is.