Daisy Berry, Am I Mental?

Daisy Berry’s question “Am I Mental?” is largely rhetorical in this show, although she is willing to subject herself to an assessment of her mental health by her audience. Daisy confronts issues that are often secretly harboured and repressed. Questions about sexuality, heritage, family life and the importance of physical appearance are all dealt with in a very personal and candid manner.

Daisy’s own insecurities are the inspiration for her material and she talks about them with disarming honesty. The nagging questions and self doubt that haunt our daily existence are exposed for what they are; a lack of belief in ourselves and the compulsion to seek assurance from others. Her anecdotes and musings on matters such as relationships, sexual orientation, and single parent families show that laughter is always the best medicine when it comes to overcoming everyday challenges.

The rapport that Daisy establishes with her audience provides excellent stimulus for development of her material as well ample opportunity to improvise. She is able to exploit the intimacy and familiarity that she establishes with the participants to express her satirical look on the ordinary things that can potentially drive us all crazy. Daisy’s humour is evidence that the ability to be philosophical, coupled with a good dose of fun and laughter, is essentially the basis of a sound mind. Deciding who possesses one is another matter.

Patricia Di Risio