From Fringe 2024

Nervous Breakdown in G Minor

Lewis Rawlinson—Théâtre Cercle Molière

Part memoir, part concert, Nervous Breakdown in G Minor is a solo performance that blends queerness, addiction, and mental illness through the lens of a young American cellist. Lewis Rawlinson brings vulnerability and emotional depth to the stage, weaving his personal story with fragments of memory, music, and identity.

The cello playing, as expected, is superb but a pleasant surprise was Rawlinson’s singing voice, which added additional emotional and musical texture to the show. The more abstract, surreal segments gave this performance its most affecting moments. These atmospheric interludes often said more than words, and were a highlight of the theatrical portions of the show.

One of the strongest elements of the performance is Rawlinson’s portrayal of his psychotic break, not as retrospective trauma, but from the perspective of someone experiencing it in real time. These scenes were raw and immersive, offering a window into mental collapse that felt neither melodramatic nor clinical, but authentically lived.

Ashley Frantik

From Fringe 2024

Lewis Rawlinson

Nervous Breakdown in G Minor—Théâtre Cercle Molière

Do you enjoy music and storytelling?

Nervous Breakdown in G Minor utilizes both in a rousing solo play. I alternate between reenacting stories of navigating through religion, queerness, and mental illness, and musically interpreting those stories by performing classical cello pieces. I hope you’ll join me at Venue 3!

“Funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting – it is the kind of theatrical performance that inspires one to truly believe in the transformative power of music.”-Henry Godinez, Artistic Associate at Goodman Theatre