A young, lisping and faceless voice opens the play with innocent narration. Though a tad over done on the lisp, the speaker’s understanding of his grandmother’s difference when compared to his friends’ grandmothers is precise and loving.
Helen Morse play a mother and author suffering from dementia who attempts to beat the illness at its own game by writing her children a letter about her life, her loss and her love. As the narrative unravels it emphasizes the polarities of frustration and sadness for her and her children who are caring for her now, while also touching on the joy and simplicity as the protector becomes the protected.
Performers Gerard Van Dyck, Michelle Heaven and Stuart Christie create a series of danced vignettes that interplay with Morse’s dialogue. Their movements are both beautiful and strong, recreating memories of the mother’s carefree youth, teenage love, and younger family times.
Composer Kelly Ryall has created a superb soundtrack for the piece which places us firmly inside the mother’s mind. At one moment canoodled in the warm timbre of an old song, we are slowly haunted by the confusion of scattered thoughts from a mind that has nothing solid to grip onto.
A definite highlight of the show was when the silver-haired beauties, The Tivoli Lovelies, stepped onstage. A genuine excited gasp echoed through the audience. The juxtaposition of their ability compared to the mother’s inability was poignant and the randomness of the illness felt real, making one ponder why Alzheimer’s happens to some people and not others.
This story is ultimately about the cycle of life that we are all part of. KAGE have created a visually poetic work that is real and sympathetic to those who are affected by Alzheimer’s. It is a wonderful way to gain a further insight into the sufferer’s mental departure and the slow farewell of those who love them.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Arts Centre Melbourne presents
Sundowner
By KAGE in partnership with Alzheimer’s Victoria
Directed by Kate Denborough
Written by David Denborough
Set Concept: Dan Potra
Set Realisation: Julie Renton
Costume Design: Paula Levis
Lighting Design: Damien Cooper
Composer: Kelly Ryall
Original Song by Paul Kelly and Megan Washington
Performed by Helen Morse, with Gerard Van Dyck, Michelle Heaven, Stuart Christie and the Tivoli Lovelies
Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio
May 8 – 13
