Mourning the Living
About the show
LifeWise Productions presents a new play about the complex challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's. More…
Kay finds herself at a crossroads in midlife. When a new relationship sweeps her off her feet, she is unable to fully embrace it because of her obligations to her husband, David, who suffers from the late stages of early-onset Alzheimer's. 'Mourning the Living' explores the difficult choices such caregivers must navigate, and the struggle to uphold obligations without losing sight of the potential of the future.
"A brave and fierce look about a caregiver...The cast is all excellent...Director Alan Souza is also the director and teaching artist for the Broadway Dreams Foundation, so it makes sense that he would have a feeling for this play. He allows the humanity to rise with a tender touch...Ms. Hogan’s dialogue flows with heart, soul and an intelligence that seems much older and wiser." Full Review
“D’Amico never overplays David to the point of caricature, despite the difficulty of relaying the character’s illness…Caroline Aimetti’s charming radiance adds both humor and depth. This complicated interplay between palpable, human characters is what makes Hogan’s story such a success…Hogan’s play is a rare and crucial exploration of both the effects of Alzheimer’s and the complexity of humanity, a work that is certainly not to be missed.” Full Review
“Though some threads of its story could use more development, Mickele Hogan’s trim, well-constructed dramedy manages to steer clear of disease-of-the-week movie clichés in favor of a more ambiguous, believable examination of the effects of early onset Alzheimer’s…Hogan’s dialogue has an agreeable flow to it, and there are welcome touches of humor that keep the evening from becoming lugubrious. Her writing is well served by a lively cast.” Full Review
"Appealing for its first 15 minutes, 'Mourning the Living' rapidly devolves into tedium and preposterousness...Ms. Hogan’s dialogue is well crafted and the structure is stage-worthy, but it all comes across as a playwriting exercise rather than a full-fledged dramatic work...Director Alan Souza’s physical staging is quite adept...Mr. Souza’s work with the cast is less successful. The main characters are played by actors that seem too young for their roles." Full Review
for a previous production "A gripping, first full-length play about a compelling subject...Mickele Hogan, the very young playwright, demonstrates a deep understanding of the conflicting, complex emotions of everyone involved...The play was very well acted and very moving thanks to subtle performances by all under Alan Souza’s sensitive direction. The closing scene was especially devastating...I recommend this play highly. You’ll be hearing about this play and the playwright Mickele Hogan again quite soon." Full Review
See it if you can relate to the caring of family with Alzheimers
Don't see it if you get depressed by the reality of alzheimers
See it if ...you can appreciate seeing family members struggling with a difficult problem in a touching way.
Don't see it if You are looking for an evening of light entertainment or if you are super sensitive and are now dealing with a loved one with dementia.
See it if you are interested in Alzheimer's and its impact on a youngish couple, want to see an impressive depiction of the disease and related guilt
Don't see it if the subject turns you off, you are not open to some of the clinical outcomes of the disease, you cannot bear to watch others suffering
See it if you have an interest in the subject of Alzheimer's, particularly the early onset variety.
Don't see it if it would be too painful to deal with.
See it if You like plays so new they may not even be quite ripe yet. You like emotional drama. You are intrigued by a play that deals with Alzheimer's
Don't see it if It takes a lot to hold your attention. You require humor or are looking for levity.
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