The Father

Andre is gradually succumbing to dementia.  In his world he is living in his own flat, although he cannot understand why strangers keep coming and going.  His daughter Anne is a frequent visitor but not his daughter Elise who is his favourite.  He cannot find his watch, saying it has been stolen and wonders why Ann is moving to London, where it always rains, or is she getting a divorce?

To watch this once powerful man as he battles with such a wretched disease is not always easy. The play though is very cleverly written. Scenes appear to be repeating themselves and people we don’t recognise come on and off stage as the audience is unwittingly taken into Andre’s confused world.

Bernard Moule gave a superb performance as Andre, widower and retired engineer, with Vanessa Wood as his long suffering daughter Anne.  This was a good performance bringing into focus the frustration felt when trying to reason with someone who appears to have no perception of reality.

Anne’s partner Pierre played by Steve Hannam, is becoming increasingly annoyed with Andre and although trying to be supportive, he does not appear to fully understand what Anne is going through.

When Laura, the latest of Andre’s carers, played by Geogia Bryson, is falsely accused by him of stealing, she decides she can take no more and leaves, bringing Anne to the realisation that her father needs specialist care.

The decision to move Andre into a care home is heartbreaking.  He cannot understand why his lovely flat has been emptied of all his belongings and replaced by a single bed.  Of course he was no longer living in his own flat but that’s something he would probably never comprehend.

There were good supporting roles from Jo Gladstone and Stuart Coombe as two people who are real only to Andre, as well as being staff at the care home.

The set was well designed and furnished, with double doors opening onto a balcony.  With the rearrangement of the contents, it multi-tasked well.

This was a brave choice by Melissa Richards for her first foray into directing a full length play, but I think she should be very pleased with the result.

Congratulations to all involved in this production and thank you for inviting me.

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