ALZHEIMER'S Disease affects such a huge population, yet it is not a topic that is readily discussed. Sundowner, by KAGE, will be a conversation starter and tear jerker for many viewers.
Review by Stephanie Glickman, Herald Sun Melbourne.
Set in a single domestic space that is both a haven of literature and a claustrophobic den, the show explores the effects of the condition on an aging woman, played magnificently by Helen Morse.
She is supported by three dancers and the enchanting Tivoli Lovelies who signpost her journey and represent her family.
Playful duets and acrobatic tussles suggest hazy memories of romance and childhood. The tap-dancing Lovelies herald both old-world glamour and the passing of time.
While these propel the narrative, it is Morse herself who imbues Sundownerwith powerful resonance.
For 90 minutes she is unrelenting as she shifts from denial to understanding to acceptance of her illness.
Director Kate Denborough uses conventional theatrical conceits that, although sometimes limit spatial and choreographic possibilities, succeed in enhancing Morse's plight and building emotional depth.
This is performance that hits at a gut level and will move even those with no prior experience with the sensitive subject matter.
