April 2004

Play draws attention to eating disorders

Art has imitated life for actor Sancia Robinson who is starring in What is the Matter with Mary Jane? during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

What is the Matter with Mary Jane? alerts audiences to the dangers of excessive dieting and leaving the symptoms of an eating disorder untreated.

It also promotes the services and support provided by the Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria to sufferers of these illnesses, their families and extended networks.

The play was written by Australia’s best-known comedienne Wendy Harmer, based on the life story of Sancia Robinson.

Wendy was the host of the ABC TV series The Big Gig, co-starred in the critically acclaimed World Series Debates with Andrew Denton in 1993/94 for ABC TV and in 1990 she had her own TV chat show, In Harmer’s Way. Wendy also hosted the Logie Awards in 2002.

Sancia Robinson graduated from NIDA in 1989 and has performed lead roles with all major theatre companies in Australia.

She also battled with anorexia and bulimia nervosa for 12 years.

Sancia first performed Mary Jane at the Sydney Theatre Company’s Wharf theatre in 1996 and then toured to the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and Hong Kong Arts Festival to great critical acclaim.

What is the matter with Mary Jane? is playing at 7 Alfred Place, Melbourne (Stamford Hotel) until April 18.

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.

Major sponsors of What is the matter with Mary Jane are the Department for Victorian Communities’ Office for Youth Affairs and the Victorian Centre for Excellence in Eating Disorders, supported by the Department of Human Services’ Mental Health Branch, the Pratt Foundation and the Besen Foundation.

The Second National Mental Health Plan: 1998–2003 recognises the prevalence of eating disorders and identifies them as specific risk issues for young people aged 12–25 years.

Psychological and emotional conditions associated with eating disorders include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, social withdrawal and isolation, difficulties with relationships and stability in life, substance and alcohol abuse.

The physical complications caused by prolonged malnourishment, vomiting, use of laxatives and emetics are numerous–reduced bone density and osteoporosis, infertility, kidney dysfunction, low blood pressure, anaemia, hair loss, cardiac irregularities, low body temperature, erosion of tooth enamel, oesophagitis, heartburn, enlarged salivary glands, electrolyte imbalance resulting in cardiac arrhythmia, muscle fatigue and cramps, bowel problems, chronic constipation or diarrhoea.

• For more information about eating disorders call 9885 0318 or 1300 550 236 (non-metro), email edfv@eatingdisorders.org.au or visit www.eatingdisorders.org.au.