" ENOUGH. A whimsical and political statement about body and beauty" by Megan Carty, show creator and performer
On Thursday February 25, a play about eating disorders, body, and beauty was mounted at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage. It was called ENOUGH. A whimsical and political statement about body and beauty. Created and performed by two grade twelve students (Fiona Sauder and myself - Megan Carty), the show focused on the ridiculous obsession that society has with weight and perfection. It explored the causes that lead to eating disorders and the emotional pain an eating disorder can cause. We looked at the issue from all angles. It was a collective-style piece, meaning many short scenes were pieced together. Some caused uncontrollable laughter and some caused tears. The overall goal of the show was to inspire the audience; encourage them and prove that recovery is possible and that recovery is beautiful.
Fiona and I decided to do this production after working with Heidi Mack, a psychotherapist specializing in eating disorders. We are both very passionate about theatre. It has the power to deliver such strong messages and touch people in ways that nothing else can. We knew that dramatizing the issues of eating disorders could be extremely powerful and touching.
Both Fiona and I have struggled with eating disorders. It is an ongoing battle that doesn't end abruptly after hospital admission. We are both constantly fighting to remain healthy and distant from the negative thoughts. This show gave us the chance to explore the area in a positive way. We learned so much about ourselves throughout the process. This show brought us both further into recovery.
In the end, the show went extremely well. It was really well received. We got a standing ovation. Countless people have approached me, either directly after the show or through email, with their personal stories and how the show touched them. Someone told me that the show inspired her to get better and since then she has not purged or weighed herself. Mine and Fiona's goal was to touch just one person, but based on the tears, laughter, and reactions of a sold-out crowd, I think we touched many more.
This is not the end of the show. Various Ottawa hospitals have already hired us to perform for their programs. I have conducted interviews about its resounding success for radio stations as far as Vancouver. Many people are asking when it will be performed again. We have been nominated for the Spirit of the Capital Arts & Culture Award. From here, we envision remounting the show at the end of May and touring it.
Fiona and I decided to do this production after working with Heidi Mack, a psychotherapist specializing in eating disorders. We are both very passionate about theatre. It has the power to deliver such strong messages and touch people in ways that nothing else can. We knew that dramatizing the issues of eating disorders could be extremely powerful and touching.
Both Fiona and I have struggled with eating disorders. It is an ongoing battle that doesn't end abruptly after hospital admission. We are both constantly fighting to remain healthy and distant from the negative thoughts. This show gave us the chance to explore the area in a positive way. We learned so much about ourselves throughout the process. This show brought us both further into recovery.
In the end, the show went extremely well. It was really well received. We got a standing ovation. Countless people have approached me, either directly after the show or through email, with their personal stories and how the show touched them. Someone told me that the show inspired her to get better and since then she has not purged or weighed herself. Mine and Fiona's goal was to touch just one person, but based on the tears, laughter, and reactions of a sold-out crowd, I think we touched many more.
This is not the end of the show. Various Ottawa hospitals have already hired us to perform for their programs. I have conducted interviews about its resounding success for radio stations as far as Vancouver. Many people are asking when it will be performed again. We have been nominated for the Spirit of the Capital Arts & Culture Award. From here, we envision remounting the show at the end of May and touring it.
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