"I figured I was finally ready to see such a piece. Before I wound up paying too much rent for an unheated room in a Sunset flophouse, I lived with family members, one of whom died shortly before we were all kicked out of the house. Caring for an octogenarian with deteriorating health isn't something the average person is trained for, and it's an experience I wouldn't want to repeat if I didn't have to."
"Sure, there's been the occasional Alzheimer's comedy at Berkeley Rep, but this piece- Elizabeth Gjelten's Lay My Burden Down, part of the San Francisco International Arts Festival, which ran May 8 and 9 at Ruth's Table-actually benefitted from its smaller scale. It was the story of Mama Vim, a woman near death (puppeteered by Sheila Devitt) being cared for by lawyer Diana (Cat Brooks)."
"Knowing that Vim isn't long for this world, Diana's kicked over every PI stone she could to find Phoebe (Valerie Fachman), Vim's off-the-grid daughte"
A short-run play about end-of-life care was staged in the rec room of a senior community center, using puppets to portray Mama Vim’s near-death situation. Vim is cared for by lawyer Diana, who searches for Vim’s off-the-grid daughter Phoebe after realizing time is limited. The production’s smaller scale helped it land with greater sensitivity, especially for someone with personal experience related to caregiving and loss. The experience also reflects how comfort can lead to creative plateaus, while continued engagement with local artists can still bring surprises. Venue safety and dramatic substance remain central concerns for attending performances.
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