Hysteria by Terry Johnson (1993): A Review

Title: Hysteria

Author: Terry Johnson

Publication Year: 1993

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pages: 108

Source: eBook

Genre: drama, surrealism, comedy

It’s been ages since I’ve stumbled upon an absurd play with such a strong theme. Terry Johnson pulls off a masterstroke by throwing Freud into his final days—only to have him cross paths with none other than Salvador Dalí. What could possibly go wrong in an absurd comedy, right? Well, how about a mysterious woman who materializes out of thin air and refuses to budge, forcing Freud to revisit every inch of his scholarly legacy (assuming you’re not one of those folks who side-eye psychoanalysis as "real science"). In the middle of all this delightful chaos, we get to watch Freud’s life’s work get skewered in the most brilliant way possible. I found myself laughing out loud, cringing, and pondering Freud’s theories all at once—a rare hat trick! All in all, it’s a wild, witty, and totally entertaining read.









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