As we prepare for the beginning of the great clashing of minds that is Freud's Last Session, I decided to do a bit of reading on our friend Sigmund. After reading the play, this wonderful article written on his later years, and, I'll admit it, the Wikipedia page, I'm very intrigued.

Freud's last years were actually pretty rough. He was diagnosed with oral cancer after a simple visit to the doctor's office. This led to his need for approximately thirty-three different surgeries to attempt to remove the cancer/maintain his ability to eat and talk. It consisted of serious reconstruction of his face, leading to the need for a prosthesis designed to separate his nasal cavity from his mouth. This contraption was termed "the monster" by his family, being a fitting name for a large denture-like instrument that fit uncomfortably in his mouth and caused a lot of pain. (While you might be interested in seeing what this prosthesis looked like, I do not advise Google-seaching "Freud mouth prosthesis," because you will see very strange results.)

Freud also had quite an affinity for cigars. Although they are possibly to blame for his oral cancer, this never deterred him for smoking between one and four each day. Apparently there were days when Freud would use a clothespin to pry open his mouth in order to smoke. When he tried to give them up, for the first twenty-three cigarless days he bragged about his "act of autotomy" (which for those who don't know what it means, myself included, it's the act of self-amuptation), however he hopped right back on the cigar bandwagon on day twenty-four and didn't stop again. Interesting man.

I'm sure this cigar information is interesting enough, but you're probably still stuck on the mouth prosthesis, as I've been all day. I honestly have no idea what one looks like and Google has yet to be of any practical help, but for this production one of the props is actually a mouth prosthesis for Freud so I promise all those just as curious as myself that I'll try and snap a few pictures for all to see. Or come see for yourself.

I'VE GOTTEN PICTURES. Here is Freud's actual prosthesis.

Along the lines of nifty props, here at T.O. we have an interesting donor opportunity where people can adopt props for the production, such as Freud's mouth prosthesis (although that's already been adopted) and they will receive a certificate recogizing the adoption as well as recognition on our lobby board. And with gas masks, famed chairs and mustaches galore, you'll be a proud parent when your prop takes the stage.