Kiera Duffy is disturbed by “10 Days in a Madhouse” as much as an 1887 public was outraged by the squalid surroundings exposed by trailblazing reporter Nellie Bly.
“The idea of the hysterical woman trope really does persist today,” the soprano said ahead of Thursday night’s premiere of Rene Orth’s musical adaptation at Opera Philadelphia. “My sister at the age of 34 had a heart attack at a gym and was conscious and telling the emergency personnel, `I think I’m having a heart attack.′ She was having all of the classic signs and they dismissed it and told her you’re probably having a panic attack and gave her the wrong medication and she died.”
