4 out of 5 stars

The chaotic life of reclusive "outsider" artist Henry Darger seems unthinkable to dramatize. Working out his demons, he produced many thousands of pages of disorganized, fantastical epic stories and illustrations often depicting small girls battling in wars -- mostly discovered posthumously. Yet in "Bughouse," accomplished director/choreographer Martha Clarke has made it work almost magically. Beth Henley somehow adapted a cohesive, faithful script from his writings. Performance artist John Kelly embodies Darger with a matter-of-fact, woeful demeanor that always feels real. And animated Darger-like projections fly across his recreated apartment, marvelously reflecting the artist's blurring of reality and delusion. — Adam Z. Horvath

At the Vineyard Theatre, through April 3, 2026; vineyardtheatre.org. (Review date: March 11, 2026)