Martin Hancock

The Ugliest Man Martin Hancock

At just 27 years old, Janis Joplin had been famous for just 8 years; yet, in that short time, she challenged not only the music industry but also western society itself, and in particular, an almost global perception of what it meant to be a woman at that time. And yet, there was something else that festered in Janis' heart and, ultimately, would be the emotional cancer that would bring her to that motel room where she died. One single event in her life would plant a seed of self-doubt that would grow into a towering presence in her mind. This play puts that event in its rightful place as a cruel and corrosive act and one that has been overlooked in terms of its significance for nearly forty years. However, today, with the recognized power and influence of social media, we can re-evaluate this event in Janis' short life and see it for what it is worth. Janis' story is tale of how one of the most uncompromising and creative people can be scythed down by something as superficial as her own appearance.