20 February

Video: First Rehearsal, “Night Of Four Skits,” Madeline Reads Her Lines

by Jon Katz

Today at the Mansion, we had the first rehearsal for “Night Of Four Skits,” four short plays to be performed at the Mansion by the residents on April 5.

Madeline is one of four actors who signed up for the readings, we’re going to rehearse with her and the others every Tuesday until the performance, which will be held in the Mansion Great Room, and a week later, at the Mansion’s private  sister facility, the Cambridge Hotel.

Madeline is in her mid 90’s, she performed in community theater in New York, playing Willie Loman’s embattled wife in “Death Of A Salesman.” She is eager to do as much theater as possible and practically begs for more cultural opportunities. She admits to having memory issues, but is not prepared to write off her mind.

Gail, one of the activity director’s at the Mansion, is also excited about the reading2connect books, and has agreed to work with me on rehearsals, playing opposite roles, encouraging the actors,  and helping me stage the play.

The residents are very excited to work with these skits, sold by our new and valued friends reading2connect. They know what they are doing, everything they create really seems to work, at least so far.

The Essex, Connecticut publishing house believes that people with dementia and memory loss (the Mansion is not a dementia facility) can learn to read independently of aides and guides. I purchased a set of four skits from them for $85. Each skit has two speaking roles there is a separate book for each role.

Susan Ostrowski, a speech pathologist and Dr. Peter Dixon, a doctor and co-director of the program, creating these books to challenge the idea that people with demential could no longer read. They do not believe that is true. You can see their brief explanation of the program on this YouTube video. They believe accessible reading can make non-interactive people interactive.

The  four skits were initially written for the elderly by BI-FOLKal Productions who permitted clinicians  Ostrowski Dr.  Dixon to make minor changes. They have found that older people enjoy reading, and listening to their peers read. The skits are written to be simple to follow, relevant to the residents’ lives – preparing for winter, going to the doctor – and funny.

They are designed to draw at the innate and often wise and wry humor that characterizes so many of the people I see at the Mansion – they have, after all, seen just about everything – and they seem drawn to performing so long as they are not made to appear foolish or feeble.

No one wants to show case their memory issues. I’ve assured the volunteer actors that they will have scripts with them during our performance, their roles highlighted in yellow markers. The only hesitation I have found is when the residents ask me if they have to memorize the lines. Once I say no, they are all in. They know what they can’t do, but are unsure of what they can do. I feel my job is to give them a peek at what they can do, I see that happening with Joan. (see above.

The residents of the Mansion have absolutely no hesitations about getting up in front of a crowd, they love the idea, I think it gives them a sense of power and purpose. And it reminds the world that their minds are not dormant or useless, as the outside world often assumes.

The skit booklets are 2 to 5 pages each

Madeline, the first actor I cast,  is vocal about needing activities of the mind that celebrate culture beyond just watching TV and playing games. She is a New Yorker, with a thick bronx attitude and a New Yorker’s bluntness. She is eager to read the reading2connect books with other residents, not just me. She sometimes struggles with memory but is sharp and engaged.

I love her enthusiasm and energy, it is infectious. Next, Sylvie, Joan and Allan, the other performers. They are all ready to join me in Tuesday rehearsals, now in the regular Mansion Activity Schedule. Their families will be invited to the “Night Of Four Skits.”

Come and check out these videos.

More to come. I am lucky to have found this project, it gives real dimension to my work as a volunteer.

The Mansion program depends almost entirely on donations from the readers of the blog. If you wish to contribute,  you can send a donation to me at my post office box, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, via Paypal, [email protected].

1 Comments

  1. That was HILARIOUS!!! I loved the acting — Madeline was TERRIFIC!! So tongue-in-cheek. Gail was a great foil for her. Hope all the skits go so well….

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