In 2013 American radio DJ Dayna Steele had her life thrown upside down when her mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. There had been signs, but she hadn’t read them. And now she was faced with becoming a carer for her mother who, it soon became clear, was becoming a very different person to the outgoing, loving woman she had been.
Steele shared her situation on Facebook at the time, realised there were many in the same situation and ultimately wrote a memoir, Surviving Alzheimer’s With Friends, Facebook, and a Really Big Glass of Wine.
Now she has turned the experience into a Fringe play. And, yes, the big glass of wine is still very much part of it. Watching this play it’s soon clear that Steele deserves it
She plays herself in the show. Rebecca McWilliams plays her mum, and any other roles that need filling, in this sweet, sad theatre piece that carries a real punch. It’s staged simply, but effectively, as Steele tells us the story and interacts with her “mum” onstage.
A simple staging for a simple story. But there’s no need for complexity here. It benefits from the straightforward clarity of the storytelling.
As a result, it is hugely moving as we watch Steele grapple with her mother’s deteriorating condition and the ever-growing demands upon her as a caregiver. McWilliams shines as Steele’s mum, as she increasingly becomes a stranger to her daughter and to herself.
What follows is often quietly harrowing, but, let’s face it, this is also a very everyday story. Alzheimer’s affecting one in nine people aged 65 and older, after all.
But it’s also full of humour and moments of joy. It’s a testament to Steele and McWilliams that you leave with a feeling of uplift.
Zoo Southside (Studio) until August 30 (except August 12 & 19)
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-woman-in-the-mirror
