September 6th @ Vancouver Fringe Festival
Grey Matter was written & directed by Jamie Dunsdon and co-written by Mallory Gallant. It is a psychological thriller where the main character Lila, a 25 year old lady, tells us the story of her 90 year old Grandma and the battle they are both facing with her dementia. As Grandma is suffering with the illness, Lila struggles with the prospect of losing someone she once was so close with, but who no longer recognizes her. A story most people can relate to one way or another and an interesting topic to tackle on stage.
Studio 16 is quite a lovely venue; small and personal with no obvious barrier between the audience and the stage. This helps you truly experience and almost share the feeling of confusion, frustration, anger and loss the characters felt as they carried us through the story.
The cast, a talented trio – Samantha Duff (as Lila), Helen Knight (as Woman) and Paul Welch (as Man), played to a small crowd on this opening night but their performance was professional, precise and a delight to watch. Helen and Paul were exceptional at quickly switching from character to character with the flick of a switch and flicker of a light bulb and even the way in which they moved their bodies at parts with such control and fluidity added to the visual feast that was this production. Minimal props were used all of which sat on stage from start to finish and the recycling of props for different uses was brilliant. I enjoyed all 3 actors perform, but I have to say I found exceptional joy watching Helen switch character, going from old Grandma to young Alice and a screaming reflection, executing every character without breaking a sweat or mixing any of the characters together – she is a very skilled artist and a great talent but again, all three gave exceptional performances.
As the play was only an hour long, the time flew by and everyone’s eyes were fixated on the 3 cast members every move – their words and their silences. I really enjoyed Duff’s story telling ability (a true art in its self) and followed with ease the events on stage as they unfolded. The use of light and sound was exceptional, the Alice in wonderland references inspired. I am chomping at the bit to tell you the ins and outs, all the highs and lows – but alas I won’t. I am a fright for ruining a good story when I enjoy it as much as I did this one. Even though I would love to share more of the story line, I shall restrain myself. This play is a fascinating snap shot into what one can only imagine it must be like to live inside the brain of someone suffering from this illness.
If I had to find a negative to the evening it would be that the audience was far too small, more people need to see this show and appreciate the wonderful efforts of both cast and crew. Welch ended his bow by asking the audience to spread the word like the clap (pun intended of course) and that is what I shall do.
All I can say to you is go see this production, fall down the rabbit hole and prepare to lose yourself in this tangled web of true life meets fairy tale, which will have you on tenderhooks from start to finish.
Click here to view Grey Matter showing times.
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Grey Matter
Drama
Over here, over there, no over here, now over there. Using plug-in lights on the stage, a few props and their bodies, the cast of Grey Matter flick through the memories of an old woman suffering with Alzheimer’s as experienced by her granddaughter.
I found myself judging the non-linear style, exasperated by clips from a childhood story, jumbled names that seemed to contradict previous plot lines and scared by the screaming. And then it hit me, perhaps it will hit you sooner, that’s what they want you to feel. Shoot me a line when you figure out why. I have to say that this is probably the only show that could confuse, frustrate, and totally overwhelm you and have you cheering for more.
The end was so beautiful, so simple and managed to sum everything up but still leave you feeling lost and sad. It was a wonderful performance made perfect by the simplicity of the set, wardrobe and approach.
If you have a loved one struggling with Alzheimer’s or really loved the book Still Alice by Lisa Genova, go and check this one out.
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Grey Matter (running time 60 mins
Written by Mallory Gallant and Jamie Dunsdon
Venue: Studio 16, 1555 West 7th Street
Still to come:
Wed, Sep 12, 5:15
Thu, Sep 13, 10:15
Fri, Sep 14, 6:55
Sun, Sep 16, 1:30
Venue: Studio 16, 1555 West 7th Street
Still to come:
Wed, Sep 12, 5:15
Thu, Sep 13, 10:15
Fri, Sep 14, 6:55
Sun, Sep 16, 1:30
Magic Word Theatre describes Grey Matter as a "psychological thriller through mind and memory" but it is more than that. The story of Lila - 25? or not - it is a haunting exploration of the effect of Alzheimer's disease on mind and body.
Framing the life journey of the 25 year old Lila and the dying grandmother, short scenes from Alice In Wonderland invoke ideas of being stuck in time and circularity of thought. Plugging in and unplugging of scattered lights was both realistically jarring and metaphorically symbolic of thoughts and fears flickering through the mind. The specific choice of using the Mad Hatter's Tea Party as a linking device made perfect sense: the Mad Hatter deals in unanswerable riddles, levels of social propriety, and a nihilistic outlook in which the end and beginning are on the same track.
This play was well written and very well executed. Surprising and clever use of lighting and minimal props highlighted the exquisite body and vocal work of the performers.
On the night we went there was no program available to say who the actors were which is a pity because all three were very good. The movement and body control of the person playing Alice was impressive, as was her movement as a deer. Don't want to give away more of the plot so I will simply comment that this was fascinating and a well performed show- worth a visit.
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Grey Matter
****
Kathleen Bell / kathleen@vueweekly.com
PRODUCTION INFO:
Company: The Magic Word Theatre
Directed by: Jamie Dunsdon
Written by: Mallory Gallant and Jamie Dunsdon
Starring: Samantha Duff, Paul Welch, and Helen Knight
A beautiful, challenging and, at times, genuinely chilling production, Grey Matter brings to the stage the dark corners and slow slipping away of Alzheimer’s. Cleverly framed by the meeting of the Mad Hatter and Alice in Alice in Wonderland, the audience is asked to decipher the past from the present and dreams from reality in the mind of a woman who is losing it. With memorizing precision, rare attention to movement and exceptional sound design this cast presents the confusion and fear of an illness that, little by little, eats away at our most precious memories.
****
Kathleen Bell / kathleen@vueweekly.com
PRODUCTION INFO:
Company: The Magic Word Theatre
Directed by: Jamie Dunsdon
Written by: Mallory Gallant and Jamie Dunsdon
Starring: Samantha Duff, Paul Welch, and Helen Knight
A beautiful, challenging and, at times, genuinely chilling production, Grey Matter brings to the stage the dark corners and slow slipping away of Alzheimer’s. Cleverly framed by the meeting of the Mad Hatter and Alice in Alice in Wonderland, the audience is asked to decipher the past from the present and dreams from reality in the mind of a woman who is losing it. With memorizing precision, rare attention to movement and exceptional sound design this cast presents the confusion and fear of an illness that, little by little, eats away at our most precious memories.