Yvonne Arnaud Theatre – until 13th October
Reviewed by Heather Chalkley
5*****
Still Alice is a powerful play dealing head on with the impact of young-onset dementia, adapted from the book by best selling author Lisa Genova. Still Alice is delivered through the eyes of Alice (Sharon Small) who is a successful career woman, mother and wife, living through the different stages of the disease. Eva Pope plays the mind of Alice (Herself), speaking her thoughts, prompting Alice to remember, often picking up on sixth sense cues that go unspoken in normal dialogue. It is such a simple technique that can leave the players exposed and has to be spot on to work. Small and Pope do not disappoint. The fluidity of the relationship between Alice (Small) and Herself (Pope) reflects the beginning, the middle and the end of the dementia as it takes hold. It gives us an insight into the abject fear, utter sadness and confusion it causes, ultimately the quiet serenity of not knowing.
Martin Marquez (John) gave a believable performance as the passionate, loyal, loving husband and father. He portrayed the responsibility his position in the family carried, having to balance what is best for everyone, sticking to what he believed was right. Lydia (Ruth Ollman) reflected perfectly the age old love/hate relationship between mother and daughter, softening and projecting unconditional love and affection for her mother towards the end. Thomas (Mark Armstrong) oozed the pain and frustration of a ‘mummy’s boy’, not able to believe or accept he was losing his mum, his best friend, until the end.
Throughout the piece the subtle changes in language lead you through the deeply moving, changing relationship between Alice (Sharon Small) and her family, her reality. The use of space, light and movement took you on the journey through Alice’s (Sharon Small) changing relationship with Herself (Eva Pope), becoming more and more distant, detached.The gentle finish was perfectly timed. A triumph for the director, David Grindley, and his Creative Team.
Lisa Genova can be proud of the continuing impact of her book, increasing the knowledge and a better understanding of young-onset dementia