Theater Review: Last Lists of My Mad Mother

by Mark-Brian Sonna of MBS Productions

Words cannot express the stir of emotions I currently feel. About an hour ago I emerged from the Stone Cottage Theatre where the play Last Lists of my Mad Mother by Julie Jensen is being performed as part of the Out of the Loop Festival. The theatrical group The Mad Mamas is responsible for this splendid production.

This one hour play deals with Alzheimer’s and the repercussions it has on the caregiver and family. It captures the whirlwind of emotions of dealing with this agonizing, befuddling, aggravating and frequently darkly funny disease. As someone who has had to care in one capacity or another three different relatives with this terminal illness I can honestly say there wasn’t a single false moment in the entire production. While plays on the subject can often be maudlin, this script incisively finds the pathos and the humor all caregivers must turn to in order to cope with the stress. It is beautifully written.

The cast is a marvel. Jeanne Evans is miraculous in the role of Ma. Her slow transformation as she declines is a wonder to behold. Not only does her body decline, but even her face and her eyes. By the end, her stare is empty - devoid of life. It is a bone-chilling performance. Pam Daugherty as Dot is so accurate in her portrayal of the daughter as caregiver that it never once seemed like she was acting. There is a moment where she is on the phone and she’s doling out pills into a pill tray trying to cope with what is a rather simple task, but she is so overwhelmed at that moment that this menial chore seems like an insurmountable obstacle. She simultaneously plays love, depression, subdued rage, caring, confusion, and hope. She is simply brilliant. Lisa Fairchild rounds out the cast in the smaller role as Sis who constantly calls to give advice and vent. She, too, plays her role with such a realism that I found myself hating her because she so nailed it on the head: I had siblings that were out of town and felt compelled to call and give advice but never came and did any of the thankless tasks. The stupendous honesty portrayed by all three left me reeling.

Julie Jensen creatively used the small space in the Stone Cottage allowing us to envision car rides, the dinner table, streets with only a few basic furniture elements. This simplicity heightened the focus on the subject matter and allowed the actors to display their talents fully.

Does the play give us new insights? It depends on your past experiences. For those of us who have been there, no. But if you haven’t gone through the emotional process of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s this play will be a revelation. It presents the audience with the pure reality behind this illness. If there is no new insight for those of us who have gone through this process one may wonder what the play has to offer. It offers comfort. You will feel warmly reassured knowing that no, you aren’t alone in your feelings. This was most pointedly done in the scene where Dot and Sis discuss various ways to “accidentally” kill someone. The scene is funny not only because of the sharp dialogue but because it reflects the morbid humor and frustration one feels when under duress in this situation. An outsider would find it inappropriate, but to one who has lived through it, the recognition of truth is devastating while still being exceedingly funny. I must note that many of us in the audience laughed loudest at this sequence while others remained appalled and silent.

There are four more performances scheduled for this play during the festival. I urge you to go see it. It is well worth seeking out.

Last Lists of My Mad Mother runs March 8 at 7:30 p.m., March 11 at 7:30 p.m., and March 13 at 8:00 p.m. in the Stone Cottage. Tickets are $10 each. 2009 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival passes, which include one admission to each festival event, are currently available for $60 by calling the WaterTower Theatre Box Office at 972-450-6232. Single tickets can be purchased online or by calling 972-450-6232. Click the following for a complete festival schedule.