Glasgow Theatre Royal – until 17 November 2018
Reviewed by Linda McLaughlan
5*****
‘An emotionally charged performance showing the reality of Alzheimer’s’.
The stage is set with almost all the props on stage at once and as the show progresses these disappear….. almost like the person Alice once was.
Based on a novel and a movie the stage show performance did not fail to show the full effects that this terrible debilitating disease has on the sufferer and all the family members close to them.
Having seen the movie with Sharon Small who also plays the role of Alice in this production I knew I was in for a roller coaster ride of emotional. Many of the audience I am sure will be able to relate tot he story of Alice begins to see her life change from being a successful lecturer, writer and speaker to a shadow of the person she once was.
Using true to life experiences with the consultation of Wendy Mitchell the performance takes you through each changing stage with Alice as her diagnosis progresses. Alongside Eva Pope played by herself we get to the see the other side of what it must be like for the person suffering, their worries and fears and all the confusion that goes on inside their head.
Alice’s husband John (played by Martin Marquez) and their 2 children Thomas (Played by Mark Armstrong) and Lydia (played by Ruth Ollman) begin to realise the changes in Alice. Although in denial at stages John tries to keep their routine as normal as possible, however what it does begin to show them is how different their existence has been as a married couple. John is keen to keep challenging himself, one because he is scared that one day he will be left with nothing, no wife and no career. Thomas misses the chats and days he spent with his mum and Lydia although no longer living in the same area and trying to get her career as an Actress of the ground appears to be the one person who sees what her mum is really going through.
I would suggest that if given the opportunity to see this production then do so as it will really open your eyes to what Alzheimer’s is about and what little we know.