On Stage: Are You Still There?

It comes as no surprise to discover Irene Korsten, who wrote the new Australian play, Are You There?, worked in the aged care system.

Anyone who has had dealings with, or loved ones in, an aged care facility will recognise many of the scenarios presented during the 70-minute play on at Theatre Works’ Explosive Factory.

Are You There? tells of the joys and challenges faced by Pia (Melanie Madrigali) who works at busy aged care home, Autumn Dale Village, on one Friday before a long weekend.

With the grand title of `Director of First Impressions’, as a result of a review by outside consultants, Pia answers calls, assists residents and helps organise rosters.

As well as interacting with residents such as 90-year-old-Lauren (Rosemary Johns) and 75-year-old Colleen (Jane Clifton), Pia has to deal with staff calling in sick (mainly she suspects as a result of the upcoming long weekend), a phone call from a son who never visits his mother but insists on speaking to her during the busiest time of the day for the nursing staff and demands from head office for paperwork.

At the same time, she’s also navigating a marriage breakdown as a result of her husband leaving her for another woman.  And then her daughter, whom she dropped off at school that morning, disappears.

To say she is emotionally exhausted is an understatement.  Yet her compassion for Lauren, who is suffering from dementia, is evident.  Lauren, who never married but has helped many young women over the years, wanders aimlessly around Pia’s reception area looking at the ceiling and  uttering the words “Are You There?”  As Lauren hasn’t had anything to eat or drink for days, Pia believes this will be the last day she will see her in the reception area.

While there’s only one-way communication between Pia and Lauren it’s very different between Pia and Colleen.

The never–married Colleen provides much of the play’s humour as she complains about everything from the food to the staff whom she can’t understand. We also learn of her obvious affection for the home’s chaplain and her opinions on the Royal Family as a result of reading New Idea!

While at times objectionable, it is clear Colleen’s life has  been rather difficult and sad thanks to her relationship with her now deceased mother.

Both Madrigali and Clifton are very believable in their roles and give strong performances.

According to Korsten the seed for the play came when she worked at the front desk in aged care.

“I was struck by the ‘double narrative’ of my busy job and home life compared to the people in front of me who were often at the end of their lives. It could be very chaotic at times,” she explains.

“I began by asking, ‘Who or what is containing the chaos?’ In  this story, it’s Pia, our receptionist, containing both the chaos in front of her and the chaos of her private life unfolding in real time thanks to the mobile phone. I’m old enough to remember a time when you didn’t hear about a disaster until you got home. Now we’re all dealing with everything all at once – especially women. The other key factor in developing this was deciding to set it in one space over one day.”

Highlighting the stories of those who are often unheard was especially significant to Korsten.

“To be honest, although there have been numerous excellent depictions of ageing in the arts, I was tired of the prevalence of the clichés –the ‘cute ‘Lavender Ladies Solve a Murder’ depiction or the ‘Everyone’s Trying to Escape because it’s so Bloody Awful’ depiction,” she said.

“I had a wonderful time working in this field and only the bad news stories make the headlines – this wasn’t my experience, and I wanted to give that as much of a voice as the individuals in this play. This play just begged to be written.”

Audience enjoyment of Are you There? may well depend on their attitudes to, and experience with, the aged care system and marital status thanks to a script that, at times, rings very true.

Are You There? is playing at Theatre Works’ Explosive Factory until September 13. Visit the Theatre Works website for further information and tickets.

Jenny Burns attended the opening night of Are You There? as a guest of the production company.

* Photo credit: Hannah Jennings.