Arcola Theatre – until 24 May 2025
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
Matthew Seagar’s agonisingly moving play is a magical reminder of the power of love, and music.
The love story of Jane (Lydia White) and Arthur (Matthew Seager) unfolds from awkward beginnings, which Arthur always claims was a cunning plan, to sweet bonding over their mutual love of Frank Sinatra and their favourite song “Fly Me to the Moon.” Arthur’s forgetfulness develops from endearing to worrying as the first signs of dementia develop and he receives a diagnosis. The story jumps back and forth in time, with memories and the present jumbled but Seager’s writing and Andy Routledge’s sympathetic direction ensure that the slight feeling of confusion orientating yourself to these changes is a fleeting reminder of the turmoil experienced by people with dementia.
Seager and White are phenomenal as the couple, with beautiful chemistry and utterly believable reactions to their situations. Seager breaks your heart as his frustration at muddling and forgetting things develops into fear and anger as the world becomes a stranger and more frightening place he no longer recognises. The use of lighting and sound to portray the terror and discomfort as Arthur lashes out when he feels unsafe is effectively disquieting – excellent design from Will Alder (lighting) and Iida Aino (sound). Lydia White is astonishing as Jane, steadfast and dutiful as her life changes from lover to carer, but the weight of despair shows through as she watches the man she loves slowly disappear.
The couple’s visits to the doctor display Arthur’s decline brilliantly, especially the changes to his speech, and provide an opportunity for Jane to talk about her guilt and resentment as she struggles to cope.
Weaving throughout the play is the couple’s favourite song, which Arthur plays whenever he has done something wrong, knowing that he can dance with Jane and all will be forgiven. As time goes on, the song becomes a tool for Jane, soothing Arthur and calming him when he gets disturbed. In a play where sniffles and tissue rustling are almost a constant, the song’s triggering of a memory for Arthur when it seems he is almost a shell has the audience sobbing along with Jane. Beautifully written and performed, this tragic story of love and loss celebrates the healing power of music with intelligence, charm and tenderness.