Jill Daum says writing a play about a family害羞草研究所檚 struggles with Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 helped her get out of bed some days as she fought to accept her husband害羞草研究所檚 diagnosis of the cruel disease.
Daum is married to musician John Mann, the driving force behind the Canadian band Spirit of the West, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 almost six years ago and now, at age 55, lives in a care home.
害羞草研究所淔orget About Tomorrow害羞草研究所� opened Jan. 25 at Victoria害羞草研究所檚 Belfry Theatre and is scheduled to run until Feb. 18. It is also scheduled to start March 1 at Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Arts Club Theatre.
害羞草研究所淭he story is fictional but it was certainly inspired by what I learned from living with John. What I learned as a caregiver and what I害羞草研究所檝e had to watch him go through,害羞草研究所� said Daum in an interview hours before the opening night performance.
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She said Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 takes its toll on more than just the individual with the disease. It ransacks families and the play explores the decline of a family and couple as the disease slowly gnaws at long-standing bonds, she said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about the wife who害羞草研究所檚 married to the person who gets the diagnosis and how it affects her and her family, and her path to accepting what her life will be,害羞草研究所� Daum said. 害羞草研究所淪he goes down a few rabbit holes 害羞草研究所� and eventually comes to a place of acceptance.害羞草研究所�
Daum, who was rewriting lines right up until opening night, said the play evolved during sessions at a women害羞草研究所檚 writing workshop in Vancouver. She said she didn害羞草研究所檛 tell anybody about her husband害羞草研究所檚 diagnosis and the foundation of the play emerged during those gatherings.
害羞草研究所淚 started to write scenes about a woman whose husband had early-onset and nobody in the group knew John had it,害羞草研究所� said Daum. 害羞草研究所淭hey were really impressed with my knowledge about the disease. I got to talk about what it was like for a caregiver. I got to do all of that without anybody knowing it was actually about me.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淔orget About Tomorrow害羞草研究所� is Daum害羞草研究所檚 first solo project, though she has collaborated on other plays.
She said Mann is not able to attend the Victoria performances.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e just gone through a really rough patch with him. But he害羞草研究所檚 still beautiful Johnny. He害羞草研究所檚 still snapping his fingers. There害羞草研究所檚 a lot of love for John in this show.害羞草研究所�
She said Mann often helped her read lines in the scenes and he contributed two songs to the play.
The songs, 害羞草研究所淔orget to Forget,害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淭om害羞草研究所檚 Song,害羞草研究所� are the last songs Mann has written. The play opens and closes with the songs.
Daum said the play is an emotional roller-coaster, humorous and moving, as the family attempts to cope with upheaval in their lives. The performance arrives at a crossroad, where actor Jennifer Lines, who portrays the wife and caregiver, meets a new man and confronts a difficult decision.
害羞草研究所淭he dilemma is should Jane take it or stay with her husband when we all know in two years he won害羞草研究所檛 remember her name,害羞草研究所� she said.
Daum said her personal road to acceptance of Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 has been difficult, especially since the journey is continuing to its ultimate end.
害羞草研究所淚 will have a life past Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 and John won害羞草研究所檛. It害羞草研究所檚 hard for everybody,害羞草研究所� Daum said.
Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
