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Theatre listings > Half Life. - Tour & British Premiere. The Play was first produced on 1 March 2005 at Necessary Angel's season at Tarragon Theatre, Toronto, Canada. Playwright - John Mighton. Director - Daniel Brooks. Designer - Dany Lyne. Lighting Designer - Andrea Lundy. Sound Designer - Richard Feren. Company - Necessary Angel (Canada) Company Website. Cast - here . 2005 Tour Dates and Times - here .(goes to Glasgow (13 - 22 Oct) and Perth (26 Oct - 5 Nov). Seen to review at Tron theatre Glasgow on 14 October 2005. Run Time - 1 hours 30 mins no Interval. Reviewer - Thelma Good. Acutely toned. Many of us have a fear of losing memory, almost all of us have fears of getting old but not being loved and being alone that is something virtually all fear. Central to this play is a gentle, thoughtful yet humorous exploration of how people are when they're older and how indifferently we relate to them. Mathematician and playwright John Mighton's Half Life is fascinated with patterns and quasi-patterns our lives throw up. It's a complex text where scenes sometimes start with the characters in full flow so you have scramble to keep up and understand. You'll stick with it not least because of this acutely toned production which invites you into emphasise with the old and the yet to become old. Clara, Carolyn Hetherington, is in a wheelchair and her memory is failing, often she repeats herself, sometimes what she says has its own beauty. Patrick, Les Carson, a new admission to the old peoples' home, does have gaps in his memories but he's cagey about his codebreaking past and a bit of a escapologist. They are attracted to each other, may have met in the distant past but what matters is how they are to each other now. Their middle-aged childern Anna, Laura de Carteret, and Donald, David Jason, are both wrestling with their own loneliness, but their reaction to one another and their parents developing relationship rings true. We often sadly act to protect rather than to share. Also coming into the home is the Reverend Hill, Robert Persichini, trying to be a good pastor has almost worn him out and the nurse Tammy, Maggie Huculak, who looks after herself as well the old folks. Round up the inhabitants we see is the gloriously grumpy Agnes, Barbara Gordon, hitting out at all the petty conforming restrictions of life in a centrally-heated and clean facility. It's a great pleasure to see so many older people portrayed on stage who are not stereotypes. Half Life leaves you hoping that somehow you'll end up loved, cared for and still allowed to be alive when the decades pile up significantly. After seeing this and Mighton's Possible Worlds his approach to theatre informed by his scientific mind definitely creates memorable theatrical moments. © Thelma Good 14 October 2005 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com Text is Published and available at Playwrights Canada Press' web site. Cast - Patrick - Les Carson, Anna - Laura de Carteret, Agnes - Barbara Gordon, Clara - Carolyn Hetherington, Tammy - Maggie Huculak, Donald - David Jason and Reverend Hill - Robert Persichini. 2005 Tour Details of Necessary Angel's production of Half Life. Tour begins 13 - 22 Oct at 8pm Tues to Sat Glasgow Tron Theatre 0141 552 4267. 26 Oct - 5 Nov at 7:45pm Tues to Sat also Sat Mats at 2:30pm Perth Theatre 0845 612 6324. Tour ends. Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is thelma@edinburghguide.com Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. Theatre listings >
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