How does a person – and their loved ones — react when he or she begins to experience dementia?
Many of us will face it, one way or another, and the play, “Helium,” written by Julian Wiles, the founder and artistic director of the Charleston Stage in South Carolina, uses comedy and emotions to explore some of the problems and rewards.
It’s the story of Mrs. Molly Kingsley, a retired high school chemistry teacher in her eighties who is struggling with the onset of dementia. Gramms navigates her life beyond the boundaries of time and space with consequences both humorous and sobering. She struggles to retain her grasp on the here and now while taking perverse pleasure in provoking her daughter into fearing that her mother has lost all touch with reality.
Like the family, the audience can’t always tell when Gramms is pretending, and the resulting humor helps soften the pain. Helium is an uplifting, emotional and funny play that will remain in your thoughts long after it ends.
Performances are scheduled at the Renaissance Centre at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19 and 20 and Sept. 26 and 27 and as well as at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.
Advance tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens 65 and older, and $11 for students. Day of tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens and $14 for students.
The Renaissance Centre is located at 405 S. Brooks Street in the heart of downtown Wake Forest.
