Sharr White. The Adelaide Repertory Theatre. The Arts Theatre. 1 May 2025
Dementia. The word is variously spoken in suppressed tones, with an edge of fear, with grave sympathy, or as nasty disparagement. None of us want it. Many of us have experienced it as a third party. It is the shadowy lived experience for some. Some of us may prefer death! It’s unnerving to note that, with over one hundred variants, dementia is the major cause of death of women in Australia today!
To find a non-scientific forum through which to comprehend dementia, to bear witness as it takes hold of a well-trained, brilliant mind through well-crafted theatre… Sharr White’s inventive script, first staged Off Broadway in 2011, compels us to bear witness to the unravelling life of fifty-two-year-old, brilliant neurological researcher Julia Smithton (Robyn Brookes), alongside oncologist husband, Dr Ian Smithton (Scott Nell). Herein lies a beautiful paradox that, in the hands of a lesser playwright, could descend into mawkish pathos. However, White’s cleverly structured script ensures we witness Juliana’s interactions and recollections in such a way as to never be certain as to where the truth lies; through structure we descend into the confusion of one afflicted by dementia. The scripts non-linear, often jarring narrative immerses us in that confusion.
This, sometimes-erratic, rhythm and pace, embedded in White’s precise, often witty, dialogue is capably managed by the small ensemble under the directorial guidance of veteran performer and director David Sinclair. Nuanced and attentive to the portrayal of characters invested personally or clinically in Julia’s increasingly disturbing behaviours, Sinclair dedicates this show to his sister-in-law who succumbed to this insidious disease, aged 60. His observations of a disease that “attacks the very essence of who we are and who we once were” are evident in his sensitive direction.
Robyn Brookes’ portrayal of Julia is compelling to watch. Brookes’ timing is immaculate, and her ability to pivot between apparent lucidity, narration, child-like vulnerability and the frustrated rage of diminishing comprehension is breathtaking. Scott Nell carries himself well in, arguably, the most difficult role in the play, Julia’s oncologist husband. Nell must navigate his way through the emotional roller coaster of the life partner of a dementia sufferer who also happens to be an advanced medical professional. I well recall the difficulty my own stepfather, a scientist, experienced when coming to terms with my mother’s terminal cancer when in her late forties; the response of the partner is complex and fraught, and Nell conveys this very effectively. I was impressed by Tegan Gully-Crispe as Woman, a role requiring her to play a neuropsychiatrist, Julia’s daughter Lauren, and the unsuspecting new owner of “the other place”, Julia’s family’s Cape Cod escape. Gully-Crispe is utterly convincing across these roles. Bendan Cooney as Man is similarly capable as Richard, Julia’s former research partner, and Lauren’s older lover, and Nurse. However, we must wonder whether any of the characters portrayed through Man and Woman are real, or simply dementia induced delusions.
David Sinclair’s superb minimalist set’s sharp angles emphasize a sense of entrapment, while Richard Parkhill’s lighting cleverly underscores Julia’s shifting thought patterns.
The Arts Theatre and Adelaide Rep are embarking on ambitious and exciting adventures, the former with a much-needed building program for the much-loved sixty-two-year-old building, the latter with an injection of contemporary theatre that, I hope, will find discerning audiences of all ages. With David Sinclair driving much of this, the only way is forward and up! I look forward to the upcoming musical, Come From Away, another foray into the contemporary canon.
As a side note, if you’re under forty, get off your butt, get off Netflix, and get out to see great theatre in places in Adelaide, like the Arts Theatre! The Fringe is not the only time to do this!
The Adelaide Rep’s The Other Place is an excellent production exploring a condition disturbing close to all of us.
Go! See it!
John Doherty
When: 24 Apr to 3 May
Where: Arts Theatre
Bookings: Closed
