Find Me: Act Two Summary

Act Two of "Find Me" delves deeper into the challenges faced by Verity Taylor and her family as they navigate the complexities of her condition and the inadequacies of the healthcare system. This act provides a more in-depth look at the long-term effects of Verity's behavior on her family and the struggles they face in finding appropriate care.

The act opens with Verity's discharge from the children's psychiatric ward after a year, without a definitive diagnosis. This scene highlights the frustration and uncertainty that often accompanies mental health issues, especially when dealing with complex cases like Verity's.

Highlight: The lack of a clear diagnosis for Verity underscores the challenges in understanding and treating certain mental health conditions, particularly in young people.

A flashback to a Christmas incident provides a stark example of Verity's destructive behavior. She complains about her presents smelling like "old socks," smashes them, and later harms herself with a carving fork. This powerful scene illustrates the severity of Verity's condition and the constant state of crisis her family lives in.

Quote: "They smell of old socks!"

The play then shifts to show the difficulties in finding appropriate care for Verity. A social worker informs Jean that she couldn't find a residential home for the now fourteen-year-old Verity, and the hospital refuses to readmit her, claiming there's nothing wrong with her. This scene exposes the gaps in the mental health care system and the challenges families face in accessing appropriate support.

Vocabulary: Residential home - A facility that provides round-the-clock care for individuals who cannot live independently due to physical or mental health conditions.

Jean's monologue follows, offering a poignant insight into the emotional toll of caring for Verity. This moment allows the audience to connect with Jean's struggles and understand the impact of Verity's condition on the entire family unit.

Edward's repeated attempts to seek help through letters, met with unhelpful responses, further emphasize the family's isolation and the inadequacy of available support systems. This sequence culminates in Jean and Nicky leaving home, a dramatic illustration of how Verity's condition has fractured the family.

Example: The series of letters and responses demonstrates the bureaucratic hurdles and lack of resources families often face when seeking help for mental health issues.

The act concludes with Verity's placement in a halfway house, introducing new characters Tom and Dottie, her carers. This setting provides a new perspective on Verity's condition and her interactions with others. The final scene, where Tom plants tulips and engages Verity's interest, offers a glimmer of hope and connection.

Definition: Halfway house - A transitional living facility designed to help individuals reintegrate into society, often used for those with mental health issues or those leaving institutional care.

Act Two of "Find Me" powerfully portrays the ongoing struggles of Verity and her family, the inadequacies of the mental health care system, and the profound impact of mental health issues on family dynamics. It raises important questions about societal responses to mental health and the support available to families dealing with complex behavioral issues.

Find Me: Themes and Dramatic Techniques

"Find Me" by Olwen Wymark employs various dramatic techniques and explores several key themes, making it a rich text for GCSE Drama study. This section will delve into these elements, providing valuable insights for GCSE Drama revision.

Themes

1. Mental Health and Society: The play critically examines society's response to mental health issues, particularly in young people. It highlights the inadequacies of the healthcare system and the stigma surrounding mental illness.
2. Family Dynamics: "Find Me" explores how a family copes with a member's mental health issues, showing the strain on relationships and the different ways family members react to the situation.
3. Identity and Self: Verity's struggle with her own identity and her place in the world is a central theme, reflecting broader questions about self-perception and societal expectations.
4. Institutional Care: The play critiques the effectiveness of institutional care for mental health, raising questions about the best approaches to treatment and support.

Highlight: The play's exploration of mental health issues and their impact on families makes it particularly relevant to contemporary discussions about mental health awareness and support.

Dramatic Techniques

1. Non-linear Narrative: The play uses flashbacks and time jumps to provide a comprehensive view of Verity's life and the progression of her condition.
2. Multiple Perspectives: By incorporating monologues from different family members, the play offers varied viewpoints on Verity's situation.
3. Symbolism: Elements like the bubble Verity draws around herself symbolize her isolation and disconnect from reality.
4. Contrast: The play effectively uses contrast, such as Verity's extreme mood swings, to highlight the unpredictability of her condition.
5. Direct Address: Characters often speak directly to the audience, creating a sense of intimacy and involvement.

Example: The use of multiple Veritys in the swimming gala scene is a powerful dramatic technique that illustrates the complexity of her character and her fragmented sense of self.

Stage Design and Production

The original production of "Find Me" likely used a minimalist stage design to accommodate the rapid scene changes and multiple locations. This approach allows for fluid transitions between different time periods and settings, essential for the play's non-linear structure.

Vocabulary: Minimalist stage design - A theatrical approach that uses only essential props and set pieces, relying more on the actors and audience imagination to create the setting.

The play's structure and themes make it well-suited for intimate theatre spaces, allowing the audience to feel closely connected to the characters and their struggles. This closeness can enhance the emotional impact of the play and its exploration of mental health issues.

"Find Me" remains a powerful and relevant piece of drama, offering rich material for analysis and performance in the context of GCSE Drama. Its exploration of mental health, family dynamics, and societal responses to behavioral issues continues to resonate with contemporary audiences, making it a valuable text for study and discussion.

Find Me: Act One Summary

The play opens with a narrator introducing the audience to Verity Taylor's legal situation, setting the stage for the exploration of her troubled life. The narrative then shifts to a series of flashbacks, providing insight into Verity's family dynamics and her behavioral challenges.

Highlight: The non-linear structure of the play allows for a comprehensive view of Verity's life and the impact of her behavior on her family over time.

We first encounter Verity at age sixteen, during a family photo session. Her disruptive behavior is immediately apparent as she dances in front of the camera, demanding attention and exclaiming that she's "on the movies." This scene establishes Verity's need for attention and her difficulty in following social norms.

Quote: "I'm on the movies!"

The play then introduces Verity's siblings through monologues. Nicky, her younger brother, expresses sympathy for Verity, while Mark, her older brother, reveals his embarrassment and frustration with her behavior.

Example: Mark's monologue highlights the strain Verity's condition puts on the family: "I can't invite my friends over because I don't want them to know what she's like."

The narrative continues to jump through time, showing various incidents that illustrate Verity's behavioral issues:

1. A tantrum over putting away her block village
2. Disruptive behavior at school
3. An embarrassing incident at a restaurant in France
4. Excitement during a bonfire night celebration
5. A meltdown at a swimming gala, resulting in property damage at home

Vocabulary: Tantrum - An uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.

These scenes collectively paint a picture of Verity's unpredictable nature and the challenges her family faces in managing her behavior. The act concludes with Edward and Jean, Verity's parents, deciding to have her admitted to a children's psychiatric ward, marking a significant turning point in the family's journey.

Definition: Psychiatric ward - A specialized hospital unit dedicated to the treatment of mental health disorders.

The first act of "Find Me" effectively establishes the central conflict of the play and introduces the audience to the complex dynamics within Verity's family. It sets the stage for further exploration of themes such as mental health, family relationships, and societal responses to behavioral disorders.