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It’s not one of those plays in which you can ignore the moral and ethical questions that come with it. It’s one serious play, though with touches of wit.
A sold-out crowd Friday in the La Croix Black Box Theatre saw an excellent production based on the life of Mary Mallon, better known as “Typhoid Mary,” one of the first healthy carriers of typhoid fever to be identified in the U.S., which led to her being quarantined on an island for much of her life.
Molly Pach beautifully captured the stubbornness and spunk of Mary in a stunning portrayal for a college freshman. Pach’s strong and sensitive acting allowed one to feel some sympathy for her, yet not fully understand what she was doing to others.
The play is set in a cottage where Mary was quarantined. The action is centered around Mary’s conversations with a priest (Michael Haslanger) and two doctors, Anne Saltzer (Charlotte Parker) and William Mills (David Andino).
This supporting cast is very good. Amalia Brownell was charming in her role as a 9-year-old girl once cared for by Mary.
The story is a tragedy, but powerful and poignant while posing questions such as: Why was Mary the only healthy carrier of typhoid isolated for life, for she was not the most deadly? Did it make a difference that she was a single Irish immigrant woman? Was it reasonable to believe Mary didn’t think she could make someone sick with invisible germs that did not make her sick?
Tonight’s performance is sold out, but tickets are available for Thursday through April 27. Tickets are $10; call (608) 796-3100.
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8227.
