Alzheimer’s The Musical

As a person in my fifties, it is rare that I feel young in an audience, but I felt decidedly youthful in the crowd at Roxy Lane’s Alzheimer’s the Musical, subtitled “A Night to Remember”. Less about Alzheimer’s than the complexities of aging in general, this three-woman show is part jukebox musical, part revue and part skit comedy, and kept a capacity audience chuckling throughout.

Starring well-known and well-respected actresses Julie Holmshaw, Jane Sherwood and Lis Hoffman. Julie was unfortunately ill in the second week of the run, meaning that we saw director Dale James step into the role of Rose – obsessed with television’s The Bill, and very likeable. Dale played the role very effectively, and although she performed with script in hand, she referred to it only sporadically, and characterised the role well.

Jane Sherwood played the outspoken and confident Mary, and took on the bulk of the physical comedy, delighting the audience with her nicely timed delivery. Lis Hoffman was strong as the cynical Joan, who remained likeable in spite (or perhaps because of) her character’s cynical and occasionally bitchy one-liners.

All strong character actresses, these ladies are all actors who “sing a bit” rather than outstanding musical theatre artistes, and while singing was generally in tune, at times some of the timing was out, despite the efforts of singing coach June Clarke (not that the audience minded at all). Kerry Goode has provided some clever age-inappropriate choreography which was fun. 

The production was supported by effective lighting designed by Luke Heath and sound design from Katherine Robertson. Location was well established by projections by Katy Nettleton.

While this wasn’t the years’ most highly polished production, it is rare that a show is so whole-heartedly enjoyed by an audience, and it was great to see a show that resonated so clearly with our senior theatregoers. A compact little show, I could see this embarking on a nursing home tour.

Kimberley Shaw