Revolution Stage Company has done it again—this time in conjunction with Blue Squirrel Productions, as they produce the California premiere of The Woman in the Mirror, a dark comedy about navigating Alzheimer’s disease, adapted from Dayna Steele’s best-selling book Surviving Alzheimer’s With Friends, Facebook, and a Really Big Glass of Wine.
How do you make Alzheimer’s funny? Well, you’ll find out when you go see The Woman in the Mirror. Steele and actress Rebecca McWilliams take the audience on an inspirational journey filled with laughter and wit—depicting the resilience required when facing extraordinary and unexpected circumstances.
Steele—a Texas rock radio Hall of Famer, a best-selling author and an accomplished speaker—is both the star and playwright, and her expertise in storytelling is the engine that drives this intimate journey. When her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Steele began posting online, detailing the family’s struggles—sometimes alarming, sometimes humorous—and would up creating a community of support and information, encompassing thousands of followers. Some of the best moments during The Woman in the Mirror involve social media visuals that allow us to laugh out loud during her heartbreaking recounting of her mother’s decline.
There is no mystery to solve here; we know how this story is going to end. The beauty and brilliance of this production come from the re-enactments of the mother-daughter journey. I am a former caregiver myself, and we learn that it’s never about being a careTAKER, because you don’t take away anything; instead, you consistently give. What else can you do when someone you cherish begins to fade away from existence? Whenever Steele is asked to speak about Alzheimer’s and caregiving, she refers to a quote by former first lady Rosalynn Carter: “There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers; those who will be caregivers; and those who will need caregivers.”
Steele peels back the heartbreak, the numbing surface pain and the daily loss, and then shows where the humor lies. She finds those tender morsels and serves them up; we gladly consume them in order to keep our own sanity. The subject matter is heavy, yes, but Steele’s scene interpretations are beyond gratifying.
How do you critique someone playing themselves? Well, Steele plays herself very well—and I believed her. Time hasn’t softened the pain she went through, yet she re-lives it with such grace.
McWilliams plays Fran Nicholson, Steele’s mother, with great likability and appeal, giving the ending even more of a punch. McWilliams also morphs into other characters throughout. Director Laura Stearns (the program credits Marley Singletary for original direction and co-writing) utilizes various levels on the stage to depict different locations: mother’s recently sold home; Dayna’s apartment; a senior facility; a home office; a car interior; and more. Rear screen projections by Mariah Pryor fill in the visuals for each setting.
There is no mystery to solve here; we know how this story is going to end. The beauty and brilliance of this production come from the re-enactments of the mother-daughter journey.
The set design is simple and functional. The lighting design by Keith Smith is exceptional—especially during many of the specialty moments like a caper involving peanut butter and jelly. A special shout-out to stage manager Heather Joy for stepping in to play various small characters throughout.
Steele’s 90-minute one-act is not only a theatrical triumph; it’s also an onstage caregiver’s manual. I left the theater feeling this would be an easy review to write, but there are too many story spoilers to reveal.
You have to see this beautiful piece of art. This slice-of-life story is proof that good theater entertains while it educates through thought-provoking material. You’ll never look at Post-it notes, M&Ms or a string of pearls in the same way again.
The Woman in the Mirror will be performed on various days through Sunday, March 31, at the Revolution Stage Company, 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Tickets are $35 to $45, with $25 tickets for caregivers. For tickets or more information, visit www.revolutionstagecompany.com.