Madeline
The Act, this crazy story about a love destined to be punished, has been on my radar for sometime now. I am a true crime fan but this is not the typical true crime story that is common with true crime lovers. It is a true crime story about a mother who had a love destined to be punished. It is about manipulation and deceit that eventually lead to a murder birthed by the naive girl she raised.
Premise of The Act
The Act is a story based on true events. The story is of a mother convinces not only her daughter, Gypsy Rose, but the whole world that Gypsy is horribly sick. Using this lie, she scams people out of money so she does not need to work, gets media attention, attention of organizations like Make A Wish Foundation, and is even given a house to live in.
As Gypsy gets older she starts to notice things that suggest to her not being as sick as her mother tells her. She had been told she was unable to walk, but when she tries it seems that she is able to. She is old that any amount of sugar will harm her but after eating some she is fine. And the age her mother tells her she is does not match her documents. These proof of being a healthy young girl makes her realize that she has been robbed of her youth by her mother and starts to resent her.
As Gypsy gets older, like most women, she starts grow interested in men and eventually starts an secret online relationship. She acts as though she is still sick around her mother but her layers start to shed when she speaks to this boy and the non sick version of her emerges. But this is not a typical relationship between teenagers. No, this is a love destined to be punished. As the relationship develops they devise a plot to kill Gypsy’s mother and run away with the stash of cash Gypsy’s mother has been hoarding.
Reality Vs. The Story
When watching a show about such a crazy story that is deemed to be based on reality, one begins to wonder what parts are true and what parts are exaggerated. With the exception of a few details to make the story flow better for the audience according to historyvshollywood.com, the writers, actors, and crew stayed pretty close to real story. Watching this story may not show every single event verbatim, but it is close enough.
Final Thoughts
The Act is a crazy story and as the story unfolds it seems more like fiction than reality. But do not be fooled by the manipulation that is Munchausen by Proxy. Although it is rare, it is a real thing that occurs and can affect a whole community, as it is in this story.
