Audience members don’t have to be interested in poetry to be drawn in by the turbulent life of Sylvia Plath. Part of the New York International Fringe Festival, Plath., directed by Emily Feinstein with music by Fernanda Douglas and book/lyrics by Molly Heller, weaves a story of the young writer’s depression through a mixture of dialogue, poetry, and song. The events take place during the summer of 1953, when Sylvia works as a guest editor at Mademoiselle in New York City and subsequently attempts suicide.

The story takes a little time to find its footing. The opening dance sequence is distracting in that the choreography appears to be trying to communicate something specific—exactly what is unclear. Sylvia’s family then bids her farewell as she heads off to Smith College in a low-energy scene with unsurprising, bland characters, although Grammy’s (Samantha Schiffman) singing voice is very nice.

The play gains momentum as it unfolds in flashbacks during Sylvia’s sessions with her therapist, Dr. Lindemann (played with intensity by Shane Salk), an arrogant, callous doctor who seems to be looking for ways to trap Sylvia with her own words rather than help her understand the malaise of inertia she has fallen into after returning home from New York.

The eight actors work tightly as a team to demonstrate the tug and pull of the poet’s internal battle. Jenny Vallancourt’s Sylvia is believable as a struggling college student, insecure in her social skills, and striving to become someone who matters. Mara Jill Herman as Sylvia’s boss at Mademoiselle sings a memorable song that advises Sylvia to snap out of it, a telling piece of what living with depression in the 1950’s must have been like.

Another fun performance is given by RJ Woessner as Dick, Sylvia’s one-time boyfriend who wants her to know how lucky she is to have him. As an ensemble, the actors follow Sylvia around, haunting her with her own internal dialogue, sometimes nearly smothering her with it. The live music is enjoyable and helps convey the mood in various scenes.

Plath. follows an engaging story arc with moments of genuine darkness and intensity. Anyone who isn’t interested in Sylvia Plath’s poetry beforehand will certainly be by the time they leave this memorable production.