Marianne Pilllsbury, the lead in Depression: The Musical, as well as creator of music, lyrics and book for the show, tries to convey the frustration and anxiety of the mental illness in an hour and 10 min. The play is a tongue-in-cheek story about a girl suffering from depression who is in the middle of writing a show about depression, while simultaneously dealing with a delusional but successful sister, an unsympathetic and slightly homophobic mother and various friends and therapists who just don't understand how overwhelming and, well, depressing this disease can be.

Marianne is also followed around by the Greek chorus in her head, singing along to her troubles, offering helpful pieces of advice and generally giving Marianne a way for her to discuss her problems with herself. Throughout the show Pillsbury touches on typical issues that come with a diagnosis of depression: sabotaged love life, difficulties with keeping a job, pressure from family, doctors who prescribe too much and listen too little and lots of biting sarcastic barbs slingshot at anyone within a 10 foot radius. She is also incredibly so self-deprecating, you want to walk on stage and give her a hug.

Pillsbury's songs are innovative and her acting is charming, but her character spends so much of the show being angry it's a bit alienating to the audience. The only glimpse of vulnerability we see is in one of the last (and arguably, the strongest) songs, "Is It Me?", where we can see the raw, naked aspects of a devastating mental condition that makes her feel truly alone. The rest of the songs, while dark and funny, also mask a deeper layer of sadness and anger.

The show, under the direction of Gretchen Cryer, is a win for creativity. The subject matter is hard one to put to paper let alone a musical but in this show it works well.

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