Depression is a central focus in the dark rendition 'Of Lamb'

Mary had a little lamb, whose fleece was white with mild depression and undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

“Of Lamb,” a production by UNC’s The Performance Collective, is a fresh, dark rendition of a children’s classic.

The show, which opens tonight, is based on the book by Matthea Harvey and Amy Jean Porter — another rendition of the classic nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

Communications major Rachel Lewallen adapted, wrote and directed the production, which examines the ever-shifting definitions of depression and mental illness in consumer capitalist America.

It addresses key facets of depression in America such as the idealistic pursuit of happiness and the true meaning of depression.

“I had an intense connection with the text,” Lewallen said. “I couldn’t not make this performance. It’s so personal.”

Lewallen’s father struggled with bipolar disorder and eventually died by suicide.

“This has simultaneously been one of the most intense and question-filled experiences,” Lewallen said. “It’s great to be able to tell a story and still talk about my father through the character of Lamb.”

Lamb, an animal obsessed and consumed with becoming human, grapples with the reality of his existence.

“Lamb experiences some extreme highs and some extreme lows very quickly throughout the performance,” Lewallen said.

Victoria Facelli, who portrays Mary and is a costume designer for the production, said the project has been rewarding.

“I think it’s beautiful — I’m just about in love with it,” she said.

Facelli, one of the founding members of The Performance Collective, said she hopes that “Of Lamb” inspires the audience to think seriously.

“Just like in all Performance Collective shows, we aren’t trying to convey one thing,” Facelli said.

“We want the audience to walk away thinking about issues.

Depression and the treatment of that depression are so relevant. I hope that this will help people find help or treatment they need, be that self-help, or therapy and medication to exercise.”

But Katherine Proctor, one of the actors, said the show also employs humor.

Proctor plays the role of Betty Twarog, the woman behind the discovery of serotonin, which gave depression a biological dimension.

“Humor is one of the best tools to deal with dark, heavy subject matter,” Proctor said. “I hope people keep an open mind to laugh, but they don’t have to.”

Lewallen said she wants the audience to leave with questions unanswered.

“They can be questions on the medicalization of mental illness in America, or they can be questioning why they just sat through my play,” she said.

“There is nothing to get. I’m just trying to make beautiful the confusion we all feel.”

Contact the desk editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.