Discovering a tangled veil of the past

Urban Myth Theatre of Youth has collaborated with aged care services provider ECH Inc as part of the Adelaide Fringe to present the world premiere of Also A Mirror. Writer Sean Riley has created a poignant exploration about the sensitive topic of dementia. The show looks set to be Director Glenn Hayden’s finest piece this year, showing a masterful hand in guiding a large group of young actors through a sensitive and profound issue.

The narrative is an expertly woven pattern of insightful snippets into the lives of four different characters. It begins with a child’s recounting of her grandfather’s memory loss; revealing an innocence of perspective. Each scene is the memory of one of these main characters – the memories that are now lost to the present day person.

The story follows their emotional and psychological journeys from happier, youthful days to managing their disease in a home. The lives of these main characters are separate at first, but the audience is allowed an omniscient view to see how they fit together like pieces in a puzzle.

The visual landscape and sound design is effective in simulating motifs of loss and memory. The efforts of a large production team are evident in its detail and quality.

Projected images of faces and places are suspended on the white background whenever a character is reminiscing. Persistent ticking of clocks and dripping water represents the ebb of time; it is this theme that is most prevalent and significant to the storyline. The set is a magnificent swathe of white, symbolising an environment both cold and pure, echoing the recurring motif of snow. As one character says, it is the “blank canvas” that is the mind of a dementia patient.

The stage is winged in lace curtains, the floor painted white, with three white cupboards that open to reveal trinkets, memorabilia and photos that encapsulate each character’s story.

The young actors show a maturity beyond their age, proving that “youth theatre” does not have to be youthful to be powerful. They display a potent emotional connection with their characters, further illustrating the actors’ ability to show their worth in predominantly adult subject material. They work together seamlessly, complementing each other to create a strong ensemble where the chemistry is visible. As each of the four main characters play out their scene, the rest of the cast frequently remains on stage to act out the details of their memory.

There are abstract metaphors created within the play, such as two boys militantly exchanging cards while a man struggles to come out of his coma. Perhaps they are dealing the cards of fate?

Another beautiful representation of metaphor was the character of an elderly woman struggling to recall words, frustrated by her inability but also showing a tender nature. This character was ever-present on stage, sometimes interacting with the other characters, but mostly drifting between scenes. She was the embodiment of dementia, representing the passage of time in a delicate and subtle way.

Also A Mirror offers a mature and dignified look at dementia, from a cast of young actors that demonstrate the power of love. It is this love that holds the characters together, that stops the spreading disease of memory loss.

This is a brilliant piece of theatre that should not be missed.

Credits