DINESWARAN M ANADARAJA - A BETTER PLACE

On 6 June 2026, at Main Auditorium Faculty of Education,Universiti Malaya.This production is presented by students of TIENAS English & the Performing Arts,Bachelor of English Language & Linguisties 2025/26.

I went to watch A Better Place is a psychological theatre production about four sisters growing up in a strict and emotionally abusive family. The play explores depression, self-harm, suicide, and family pressure while showing how emotional abuse slowly destroys a person's mental health. It encourages the audience to reflect on the hidden struggles behind a "perfect family." Although the actors showed commitment to their roles, I believe several directing choices reduced the emotional impact of the performance. Stronger direction could have created a deeper emotional connection with the audience.

The casting was one of the production's strengths. Each actor suited their character well. Ophelia appeared gentle and caring, Isabella portrayed a rebellious teenager struggling with mental health, Clara showed emotional detachment, while Lydia reflected innocence and the desire to be heard. Their costumes and stage presence matched the characters. However, acting is more than looking like the character. Every emotion should feel natural, and every line should be delivered with genuine feeling.

From a psychoanalytic perspective, human behaviour is shaped by unconscious emotions, repressed trauma, and unresolved conflicts. The Bennett sisters' actions are the result of years of emotional abuse and fear. Therefore, the actors needed to express these hidden emotions through silence, hesitation, facial expressions, and natural reactions instead of only through crying or shouting. However, some dialogue lacked emotional authenticity. The dialogue tempo and rhythm often felt unnatural, almost as though the actors were waiting for their turn to speak instead of reacting to one another. There were also very few moments where the actors paused before responding. These quiet moments are important because they allow the audience to understand the characters' inner struggles. Without them, some conversations felt rushed, making it harder to connect with the sisters' psychological pain.

This became clearer during emotional scenes. Although the actors cried and showed sadness, I sometimes struggled to feel the emotions. Some performers covered their mouths or faces while crying, which affected voice projection and made parts of the dialogue difficult to hear. Since facial expressions are an important part of emotional acting, keeping them visible would have helped the audience better understand the characters' suffering.

The chemistry between Mr. Victor and Mrs. Evelyn also felt weak. Although they shared limited stage time, they represent the unhealthy relationship that shaped the family's trauma. Their interactions lacked emotional tension, making it difficult to believe they had lived through years of conflict together. Better eye contact, body language, and emotional reactions could have strengthened this relationship.

I also question the director's decision to use profanity so frequently. While harsh language reflects an abusive household, its repeated use reduced its dramatic impact. Since the play was performed in a university auditorium attended by students, lecturers, invited guests, and members of the public, using explicit language more selectively would have been more effective. Strong words should support the story, not distract from its important message.

The technical elements also had room for improvement. The lighting worked well during scenes like the "Red Room," but many long conversations relied only on general lighting. Different light intensity, spotlights, or gradual transitions could have reflected the characters' changing emotions more effectively. The sound design was also minimal. Since this is a psychological play, subtle sounds such as heartbeats, breathing, echoes, or whispers during scenes of trauma and dissociation could have strengthened the audience's emotional experience.

Despite these criticisms, one directing choice stood out positively. Having a character enter through the main auditorium entrance instead of the stage immediately drew the audience's attention and encouraged everyone to follow the character's movement. This creative use of the auditorium successfully increased audience engagement and made the performance feel more immersive.

Overall, A Better Place presents an important message about mental health and family abuse. However, from a psychoanalytic perspective, the production could have explored the characters' hidden emotions more deeply through its acting and directing. Better emotional pacing, stronger character chemistry, improved lighting and sound, and more careful use of profanity would have allowed the audience to better understand the sisters' unconscious trauma. These improvements would not only strengthen the artistic quality of the production but also leave a more meaningful and lasting emotional impact on the audience.

#abetterplace #performing arts