STEPHANIE GAMBA
Becca Schneider in “Trich.”
Luna Stage in West Orange has two performance spaces. In its larger one, it is currently presenting the excellent “A Case for the Existence of God” (see review HERE), which will run through March 16. And a production, in the smaller space, of “Trich,” will overlap with it, starting on March 8 and ending on March 25.
Luna Stage previously presented “Trich” — an autobiographical solo show written by and starring Becca Schneider, with co-direction by Jenn Haltman and Casey Pfeifer — in late 2023 (read review HERE). “We did it for only two weeks at that time, and a whole lot of people couldn’t get in,” said Luna Stage artistic director Ari Laura Kreith, while introducing a performance of “A Case for the Existence of God,” last week.
“Trich” is short for trichotillomania, a mental disorder that causes someone to pull their hair out, compulsively. Schneider suffers from this disorder. And though she said, during the course of the prior Luna Stage run, that she currently has it under control, it wreaked havoc on her life in her high school and college years. In “Trich,” she revisits her worst times with it, and discusses her recovery, all with painful honesty and a lot of wry humor.
Trichotillomania may be a rare disorder, but I think that anyone who has had to deal with a bad habit that they have had difficulty shaking, should be able to relate.
I included “Trich” as No. 11 on my Top 15 New Jersey Theater Productions of 2023 list.
Like all Luna Stage productions, “Trich” will be presented on a pay-what-you-choose basis.
Talkbacks with mental health professionals will following six of the upcoming performances of “Trich” at Luna Stage. For information, visit lunastage.org.
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