Are You There? (Wild Boar Theatre), at Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory - 60 minutes

Dementia is brought into sharp focus, but not in a maudlin sort of way in Are You There?

In fact, the storyline is darkly comedic.

The location is aged care home Autumn Dale Village.

It is there that 90-year-old Lauren (Rosemary Johns) is housed.

On the front desk, as the Director of First Impressions, is divorced mother of two, Pia (Melanie Madrigali), who clearly cares deeply about Lauren.

Also in the frame is another resident, the perpetually opinionated and anxious Colleen (Jane Clifton), aged 75.

Photos by Hannah Jennings

During the hour-long play, we learn more about each of the three players and some of the people in their lives.

Unfortunately, Lauren is but a shell of who she used to be.

She is now resigned to saying just three words repeatedly, namely Are you there? She wanders around with a distant look in her eyes, dismissing Pia’s regular overtures for food and drink.

From a rural upbringing, she was a believer (in God) and started a home for pregnant teens and young mothers.

At the aged care home, she was friendly with Colleen, but Colleen has no time for her now that Lauren’s mind has gone.

Colleen thought the world of her mother, who was never short of male attention.

Colleen is also quite needy – pushy even – forever calling upon Pia to address her wants.

Pia’s former husband, Ian (who we don’t see), just up and left one day and has since remarried.

It is Friday, before a long weekend, and her birthday.

She has her hands full with head office demands and the fact that her 13-year-old daughter has gone missing from school. She also has a 17-year-old son.

Her challenge is to keep it all together with so much on her plate. That isn’t always easy, especially when Ian doesn’t pull his weight and Colleen is constantly in her ear.

Irene Korsten has written a slice of life piece that, I dare say, will resonate with those that have ageing parents who are no longer what they were.

Korsten has ensured that in large measure it is light and breezy, with some amusing throw away lines.

The acting is solid, if a tad performative.

The question I always pose when assessing any play is whether I believe the actors metamorphosise into the characters they are playing.

Of course, that is not an easy thing to achieve. It has to do with non-verbal cues, as much as the verbiage assigned to them.

In this case, I felt that, at times, they were focused on delivering lines and I could tell they were acting.

They did that well enough, but I would have liked a little more nuance.

The simple set, being 10 lampshades above an L-shaped desk with manicured garden bed surrounds, works effectively. It is the conceit of Josh McNeill.

Director Rachel Baring has let the piece breathe, ensuring the humour lands time and again.

Are You There?, which has been playing at Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory, tackles a serious issue with heart.