Friday, December 22, 2017

DOT: A BRILLIANT MOVING PLAY AT PARK SQARE

Colman Domingo wrote a difficult, long, moving play about the devastating effects of Alzheimer's Disease on a single black family in Philadelphia. The overlong play explores several levels of history between the family members as they try to come together to cope with the obvious deterioration of their widowed mother, Dotty. Anyone who has intimate knowledge of a relative or close friend who is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's will recognize the characters in this complex play.

Excellently mounted in Saint Paul by Park Square Theatre on their proscenium stage, the play illuminates the development of levels of understanding between the gay brother, his caretaker bossy organized sister, Shelly, their over-the-top wannabe actress, Averie, and a couple of important family friends. The range  of emotions displayed by the company is worthwhile and the central character in a difficult role, is the matriarch, Dotty. The actress cast in this difficult role is top-notch.

The play runs through January 4 and should be a must-see for anyone who cares about the care and relationships one might have  to deal with in such circumstances. While it is a serious, emotional play, it contains many truly hilarious lines and incidents. A worthy, satisfying way to spend an evening in theatre. The play runs through January 7, 2018.