As her family struggles to come to terms with her Alzheimer’s diagnoses, Irene blurs reality with her passion for romantic literature. Family secrets are revealed and an instantly recognisable famous romance author appears to help.
Bothered and Bewildered by Gail Young deals with the subject of dementia through widowed Irene who, according to her daughters, started to ‘go wappy’ after her husband’s death. Irene’s condition develops into Alzheimer’s and the daughters struggle to cope.
The pace of this moving drama with some comic moments develops slowly mirroring the difficulties of helping a family member with this condition. There were some nice characterisations. Lin Hinnigan-Leach got to grips with the most difficult role of Irene, and Teresa Quigley and Emma Horspool portrayed good contrasting personalities of daughters Beth and Louise. As Irene’s condition worsens, she is encouraged to write a Memory Book, inspired by her favourite author, Barbara Cartland.
Nicci Harvey played the weirdest role of Cartland, who only appears in Irene’s mind. Looking authentically like a cross between the Sugar Plum Fairy and a pantomime dame, she wafted in and out, encouraging Irene to reveal her innermost thoughts, including a wartime romance and a baby given up for adoption. The most moving scene by far was between Irene and her granddaughter Shelly, beautifully played by Yasmin Luxford. Dan Creedon was Irene’s illegitimate son, Simon Palmer was the doctor and Georgina Walkington the community support officer.
— Edited from Gordon Birch’s review in the Harborough Mail
Irene – Lin Hinnigan-Leach
Louise – Emma Horspool
Beth – Teresa Quigley
Barbara Cartland – Nicci Harvey
Young Irene / Shelley – Yasmin Luxford
Jim / James – Dan Creedon
NHS Consultant – Simon Palmer
Community Support Officer – Georgina Walkington
Photography by Andrew Wallace
Directed by Christine Faulconbridge
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com