Reviewed by John Daly-Peoples
In Other Word by Mathew Seager
Figment Productions
Q Theatre
Until September 15
Reviewed by John Daly-Peoples
“In Other Words” is a play about Alzheimer’s. It isn’t so much a drama about the disease, it’s more of a documentary, a slice of the lives of Jane and Arthur as Arthur is affected by the disease. There are no great philosophical questions, no moral dilemmas or exposure of human weakness or corruption.
It’s a warning play and an educational play which should be funded by the Health Department in much the same way as ads about the dangers of smoking or alcohol.
We first encounter Jane and Arthur in their youth where we learn of their chance encounter with a spilt glass of red wine, their love of Frank Sinatra and of dancing. That’s as much of a back story we are offered.
Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst take us into the world of Jane and Arthur as they both navigate Arthurs slow development of Alzheimer’s from the initial fog of slight memory loss to the painful realisation of the disease and its impact on their lives.
The play tracks through the stages of the disease – trouble with planning and organising, losing items, forgetting names, mood swings, inability to choose clothes, wandering or getting lost, seeing fictional people and becoming suspicious or delusional.
In tracing the downward spiral there are moments of comedy and crises, there are also times of explanation and self-reflection as both actors break though the fourth wall, to talk to the audience, acting as commentators on their lives and the disease.
For the play to be effective it needs actors of an exceptional quality. Ward-Lealand and Hurst have those. They create characters who can make subtle shifts of facial expression, gestures and voice. Hurst convincingly ages but also conveys his frustration, confusion and anger
Ward-Lealand captures Jane’s own frustration, stoicism, and despair and the perplexing love which the partner/carer expresses for their lost partner which is brilliantly conveyed in her closing speech where thoughts of murder and love collide.
A major element in the play is Frank Sinatra and his song “Fly me to the Moon” which has the lines “in other word hold my hand. In other word baby kiss me”. It’s the couples theme song which they first dance to, the song which bonds them, pacifies Arthur and ends the play.
The writer Mathew Seagar says that having worked in a dementia care home, he saw the impact of music. “ Some residents who seemed cognitively unaware, distressed, and unable to communicate would stand and sing every word to a song they recognised from earlier in their life. The resulting transformation in their mood or ability to remember was often astounding, and we could see the potential of music in keeping those living with dementia connected to themselves and the world around them.”
Hurst and ward -Lealand along with Callum Brodie are credited as co-directors with Brodie also acting as producer. They have carefully crafted a moving performance which speaks to the problems of Alzheimer’s – the Secret Killer.
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