health

Care review

Young Vic, LondonAlexander Zeldin’s devastating play depicts the gruelling loneliness and confusion of life in a care home

Care review

TL;DR

  • The play explores the lives of elderly residents in a care home, focusing on themes of loneliness, dementia, and loss of autonomy.
  • It is described as both a portrait of old age and an indictment of a system that leads to isolation.
  • Key characters include Joan, her daughter Lynn, and other residents like Agnes, Paula, John, and Simone.
  • The performance features 'darkly sublime' performances, with initial touches of accidental humor that give way to a more serious tone.
  • Moments of human connection, like a hug between Joan and John, are highlighted as vital in the emotionally desolate environment.
  • The play implicitly criticizes the lack of resources and the slow passage of time in care homes.
  • Set design emphasizes the institutional and inescapable nature of the space, with the care provided by strangers offering a form of sustenance.
  • The play concludes by suggesting the need for alternative ways of caring for the elderly, even amidst the heroism of carers.