Jill Daum says writing a play about a family91裸聊视频檚 struggles with Alzheimer91裸聊视频檚 helped her get out of bed some days as she fought to accept her husband91裸聊视频檚 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 Alzheimer91裸聊视频檚 almost six years ago and now, at age 55, lives in a care home.
91裸聊视频淔orget About Tomorrow91裸聊视频� opened Jan. 25 at Victoria91裸聊视频檚 Belfry Theatre and is scheduled to run until Feb. 18. It is also scheduled to start March 1 at Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 Arts Club Theatre.
91裸聊视频淭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 I91裸聊视频檝e had to watch him go through,91裸聊视频� said Daum in an interview hours before the opening night performance.
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She said Alzheimer91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about the wife who91裸聊视频檚 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,91裸聊视频� Daum said. 91裸聊视频淪he goes down a few rabbit holes 91裸聊视频� and eventually comes to a place of acceptance.91裸聊视频�
Daum, who was rewriting lines right up until opening night, said the play evolved during sessions at a women91裸聊视频檚 writing workshop in Vancouver. She said she didn91裸聊视频檛 tell anybody about her husband91裸聊视频檚 diagnosis and the foundation of the play emerged during those gatherings.
91裸聊视频淚 started to write scenes about a woman whose husband had early-onset and nobody in the group knew John had it,91裸聊视频� said Daum. 91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淔orget About Tomorrow91裸聊视频� is Daum91裸聊视频檚 first solo project, though she has collaborated on other plays.
She said Mann is not able to attend the Victoria performances.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e just gone through a really rough patch with him. But he91裸聊视频檚 still beautiful Johnny. He91裸聊视频檚 still snapping his fingers. There91裸聊视频檚 a lot of love for John in this show.91裸聊视频�
She said Mann often helped her read lines in the scenes and he contributed two songs to the play.
The songs, 91裸聊视频淔orget to Forget,91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淭om91裸聊视频檚 Song,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淭he dilemma is should Jane take it or stay with her husband when we all know in two years he won91裸聊视频檛 remember her name,91裸聊视频� she said.
Daum said her personal road to acceptance of Alzheimer91裸聊视频檚 has been difficult, especially since the journey is continuing to its ultimate end.
91裸聊视频淚 will have a life past Alzheimer91裸聊视频檚 and John won91裸聊视频檛. It91裸聊视频檚 hard for everybody,91裸聊视频� Daum said.
Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
