SHRINK / we all need one - MPLS’ Most Notable Rock Musical
Created by Sophia Pimsler ~ Music by Venus de Mars
Sophia Pimsler spent roughly three years carefully creating this work, which first began during a long plane ride home from Ukraine amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Like much of the world, she had no idea that the pandemic would turn life upside down and affect us all. During this time, Pimsler became more introspective and began examining her day-to-day life. She sought a way to merge two important parts of her identity: her work as a therapist and her role as an artist.
The musical opened with Venus de Mars playing “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd in a corner of the stage. She had sleek black hair falling past her shoulders and was dressed in shades of black leather. On the opposite side of the stage, a therapy session between a client and therapist was taking place. Between them was a group of six men and women of different ages and backgrounds, each lost in their own form of expressionist dance.
Later, I learned that the client participating in the therapy session was actually a therapist herself, who would spend much of the musical working with six clients as they navigated their individual challenges. This reminded me of something my professor told my class during my first semester at university in a social work course. She said, “Sometimes even therapists need therapists.”
One by one, the audience learns about each of the six clients and the challenges they face, ranging from sexual identity and immigration to healing from the loss of a loved one, navigating blended families and parental abandonment at an early age, sexual assault, and mental health struggles.
As an outside observer, it wasn’t difficult to become emotionally invested in the different characters’ storylines, especially because there were several moments that made it easy to relate to at least one of them. The obstacles they faced felt timely and relevant to contemporary society, which I believe is what draws the audience into the story.
The production features a dynamic cast of acclaimed Twin Cities music, theater, and dance artists, including Suzanne Costello, Brian J. Evans, Maurice Fields, Tyler Jay, Chris Jimmy, Brenna Mosser, and Molly Stoltz.
SHRINK/ we all need one is supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the Creative Individuals Art Grant and the Rimon Foundation through Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater.
