One Last Waltz

Stepping Out

One Last Waltz

by Luke Adamson

JLA Productions at the Bridge House Theatre, Penge until 17^th June

Review by Denis Valentine

One Last Waltz is a play that takes a real look into the world of Alzheimer’s and how its onset can affect not only the person suffering from it, but also those around and close to them as well.

Writer and director Luke Adamson along with director Joseph Lindoe have done a fine job in creating a theatrical piece around a serious and sad topic, but injecting it with enough humour and plain modern-day recognisable realism that audience members can still find joy and hope in what they are seeing from the characters in front of them.

The first two characters introduced to the audience are Alice (Judy Tcherniak) and her daughter Mandy (Janna Fox) who, we learn in the first part of the play, hope to go on a trip to Blackpool to relive some old memories and help the process in grieving for Alice’s recently deceased husband.

Fox and Tcherniak create a very believable and well balanced mother-daughter dynamic on stage and there are undoubtedly moments that will resonate with many audience members who have experienced such parental-child moments themselves.

Tcherniak delivery of her lines really do capture someone reaching for the memories and right things to say as they become harder and harder for them to grasp.  Whereas Fox strongly plays a very recognisable character struggling to keep things together, as different aspects of their life seem to be in a constant challenging spiral, and does well to keep the show grounded.

It is of great credit to the dynamic that Fox and Tcherniak have built, that there is a genuine sense of collective sadness for the characters from the audience when things like the revelations that places that they hoped to go to on their trip, may not be there anymore come.

About a third of the way into proceedings Alice and Mandy meet receptionist Georgette (Julia Faulkner).  Through Faulkner and her portrayal of Georgette the play somewhat shifts in tone.  The more sombre reality of what had been seen with Alice and Mandy is now pierced with a character that leans more on the theatrical comedic side, especially for the first few scenes she is involved in, before giving way to something with a much darker element.  Faulkner gives a strong and confident performance, but it does at times feel at odds with what her fellow cast-mates have initially offered.  (It is interesting to note that she was involved in a previous production of the show and maybe that version suited this portrayal a little better).  

As mentioned, the humour in Georgette’s character also covers a much more serious and darker side to not only her, but also explores one of the possible realities and issues of dealing with Alzheimer’s.  It is especially in these moments where the trio on stage come together to paint a very vivid picture around the subject and one that is tinted in sadness, but also offers the chance of hope and redemption.  The fact that none of these things is ever clear cut is written in very poignantly by Adamson, as even Georgette is never explicitly absolved by Mandy when she admits to the dark moment that has plagued her, and that it is all about how she individually chooses to move on from it  

There is a constant sense of slight apprehension in proceedings, as the audience obviously know the premise of the play is to do with such a destructive disease, but that does not stop there being genuinely funny moments throughout.

There are certain scenes which benefit from the quietness and space that the directors allow the actors whether it is Alice sitting quietly with her shoes or Fox stood there for a moment wondering what is happening to the woman she once knew.

A late night drink between Alice and Georgette is also well crafted and executed in putting the elements in place for the final stakes of the show.  It is a credit to Adamson’s scriptwriting and understanding around the subject, that the fact that the onset of Alzheimer is so easy to miss is shown by the fact that Mandy has not even realised what her mother may be suffering from, until Georgette points it out to her.

The music and set complement the actions on stage well.  From starting off as a bit of a jumbled packing area (a good visual metaphor for the memories packed away in Alice’s head) to seamlessly becoming the run-down hotel that has seen better days, that the duo end up going to.  For the play’s climax there is an eloquent beauty to the stage and, despite its sombre topic, does show that there is still wonderful things to behold in it.

As a look into the early onset of Alzheimer’s and the issues it can bring, the play offers a very interesting insight and exploration of what it may entail.  The performers all do a highly commendable job and offer an at times a sad, but still an enjoyable, eighty minutes of theatre.

Denis Valentine, June 2023

Image by Renard Press