The Insanity of Mary Girard by Lanie Robertson is a haunting one-act docudrama that explores the descent into madness of a historical Philadelphia woman, Mary Girard, who was committed to an asylum in 1790 after becoming pregnant by another man. The play is frequently studied for its commentary on women's rights, the subjectivity of sanity, and the brutal treatment of mental illness in the 18th century. Play Summary & Context
Historical Basis: The play is based on the true story of Mary Lum Girard, the wife of wealthy financier Stephen Girard. In 1790, Stephen used his legal rights and significant wealth to have Mary committed to the Pennsylvania Hospital's basement ward for the insane.
The Plot: Set during Mary's first night in the asylum, the play depicts her strapped into a "tranquilizing chair"—a device designed by Dr. Benjamin Rush to eliminate hallucinations—while being tormented by "Furies". These figures act as a Greek chorus, dancing around her and impersonating key figures from her life, including her mother, her husband, and his mistress.
The Conclusion: Overwhelmed by the "Furies" and her husband's betrayal, Mary eventually embraces her diagnosis, declaring herself "happily insane" as a final act of liberation from a society that has already condemned her. Core Themes & Motifs The Insanity of Mary Girard Full Script | PDF - Scribd
Lanie Robertson's 1976 play, The Insanity of Mary Girard, is a haunting one-act drama that blends historical fiction with psychological horror. Based on a true story from 1790, it depicts the first night of Mary Girard’s confinement in a Philadelphia insane asylum after being committed by her wealthy husband, Stephen Girard. Plot Overview & Historical Context
The play begins with Mary strapped into a "tranquilizing chair" in the basement of Pennsylvania Hospital. Her husband, the noted financier Stephen Girard, has declared her legally insane and bribed the hospital to keep her there for life after discovering she was pregnant by another man.
Throughout the night, Mary is tormented by "Furies"—supernatural figures or fellow patients who act as a Greek chorus. These Furies taunt her by shapeshifting into key figures from her life, including her mother, her husband, and his mistress, Polly Kenton. By the end of the play, the psychological toll of her environment leads Mary to choose "insanity" as her only means of liberation and control. Character Guide the insanity of mary girard script pdf
The play is typically performed with a small cast, often utilizing doubling for the roles of the Furies. The Insanity of Mary Girard - Concord Theatricals
Trapped in the Tranquility Chair: The Haunting Reality of Mary Girard Lanie Robertson’s one-act play, The Insanity of Mary Girard
, is a chilling exploration of power, gender, and the thin line between sanity and survival. Based on a devastating true story from 1790, the script follows the first night of Mary Girard’s 25-year imprisonment in a Philadelphia mental asylum. The Real History
The play centers on Mary Lum, the wife of Stephen Girard, a prominent and wealthy merchant. After Mary became pregnant by another man, Stephen utilized his immense social and financial influence to have her declared "legally insane". He effectively bribed the Pennsylvania Hospital to keep her confined in a basement "lunatic cell" for the remainder of her life. Historically, Mary spent her final 25 years in this institution, giving birth to a daughter who died in infancy, and eventually being buried in an unmarked grave. A Nightmarish Theatrical Device
The script is renowned for its "Furies"—a Greek chorus of five ghost-like figures who represent figments of Mary's imagination. These Furies: The Insanity of Mary Girard explores the power of choice
So, where can you read this?
Here lies the digital insanity. Unlike almost every other modern play, a clean, legal PDF of The Insanity of Mary Girard is a ghost.
Robertson’s play is still very much under copyright. It is published by Dramatists Play Service (DPS). In a normal world, you would simply buy the acting edition for $10.99, download it, and read it.
But here is the catch that drives the online search frenzy:
The play is notoriously out of print and restricted.
While DPS lists it, obtaining a digital copy often requires proof that you are producing the show. The physical acting editions are scarce, often selling for collector’s prices on eBay ($80–$200). This scarcity has created a vacuum, and nature abhors a vacuum. So, the internet fills it with desperate queries:
You will find forum threads from 2014 asking the same question. You will find broken Tumblr links. You will find people claiming to have a copy, only to ghost you when you DM them. The Insanity of Mary Girard by Lanie Robertson
Let’s address the elephant in the room: why do you keep getting dead ends when searching for "the insanity of mary girard script pdf" ?
If you are searching for the PDF, you likely already know the play’s reputation. Here is why the script is considered a modern classic of the one-act form.
Now, to the crux of the keyword: Where can you find The Insanity of Mary Girard script PDF?
Let us be direct. As of this writing, there is no legal, free PDF of this play available for public download. The play is still under active copyright protection. Lanie Robertson’s work is professionally published and licensed by theatrical licensing houses, primarily Dramatists Play Service (DPS).
Here is the reality of the situation:
Why is it not free? Playwrights earn their living through licensing fees and script sales. Unlike a public domain novel from 1850, The Insanity of Mary Girard is a living, working piece of intellectual property. Every time a theatre company pays for the rights to produce it, Robertson’s estate receives royalties. “The Insanity of Mary Girard script pdf free”