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This gig is part of the gala in support of Mental Health Week. It was in-town and an early show, so Nash left me with my pal Diesel. I miss Nash for a bit but soon forget him as Diesel starts dragging me around the kitchen. When Nash arrived at the hospital, his way to the loading doors was blocked by a film company that had commandeered the area. Undaunted, Nash casually backed up the van onto the lawn a hundred feet away and began weaving slowly around the shrubbery. Seeing this maneuver, a film company gorilla shouts out, "Are you nuts?" Nash replies, "No, just visiting!" The presentation is a twenty-minute showing of the finale to Caligari. The co-ordinators of this gala had contacted Nash because they had seen his presentation at the Reverb Room a few month's earlier. They thought it would be an appropriate addition to the show. It's the first film ever made dealing with the subject of institutionalized mental illness. The sold-out audience of 300 is very receptive. The main part of the evening's presentation is a showing of the film Completely Cuckoo, a documentary on the making of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. In one segment, Ken Keysey, the author of the original book, says he wanted the film to have the same paranoia as Caligari. A nice, unexpected reference. Afterwards, there is a panel discussion on institutions, shock treatment and other relative subjects. The public is allowed to speak as well. Some people in the audience have had first hand experience with the system, and they don't seem very happy. Instead of creating awareness of Mental Health, perhaps the public should be made more aware of Mental Care. As it is now, it's pretty scary. It was a very interesting event, and Nash was happy to be a part of it. Thanks to Lisa, Robert and Winston for a very well-run presentation. Nash came to get me around 11 pm and we headed down to Ashbridges Bay for a late-night stroll. He told me all about his evening. Sometimes, you humans don't take care of your own. At least when we canines go mad, we get put out of our misery. Digger |
