Lucas: Hilton Head's Lean Ensemble will shine a light on memory loss in 'The Waverly Gallery'

Loss of memory and the human condition are at the heart of Lean Ensemble Theater's latest production of "The Waverly Gallery" coming up next week.

The play -- written by Kenneth Lonergan who co-wrote the film "Gangs of New York" -- was a 2001 Pulitzer Prize finalist.

Having been described as both "painful" and "hilarious," "The Waverly Gallery" revolves around Gladys Green, a former lawyer turned gallery owner who is losing her memory.

It's the second show for the theater's 2015-2016 season which kicked off last October with "The Glass Menagerie."

Chosen with the community in mind, the play's subject matter is something that cast member Blake White, who directed "Menagerie" and director Nick Newell say will be familiar to those caring for someone with Alzheimer's or dementia, a fast-growing segment of society.

"Someone who is dealing with a loved one going through this will recognize many of the situations in this play," Newell said.

In fact, both Newell and White have lost family members and loved ones to dementia. So the play, which has many moments of levity, they said, is particularly meaningful for them.

"The humor wasn't always so evident," Newell said. "But then after one read through, it was amazing how much was embedded in the text."

Said to be inspired by Lonergan's grandmother in her final years, the play does well to create a sense of confusion or a splintered mind and the descent into illness that follows.

"It is somewhat gradual at first, but then you see these moments where it becomes evident that things are changing," Newell said.

In addition, the script uses overlapping portions of dialogue to add a sense of verbal chaos and commotion on stage.

Newell who directed "The Baristas" for the South Carolina Repertory Company, said he was concerned when he first saw the script, thinking he'd have to instruct cast members to slow down during those bits of dialogue.

But a top-flight cast, including professional L.A.-based actress Anne Cooper, who plays Gladys, has been moving through rehearsals with amazing speed, he said.

"They are doing an incredible job already. When they hit their marks and lean into it, it's like a piece of music. It just takes over," he said.

And while memory loss is certainly at the core of this play, there's more to "The Waverly Gallery" than the heartbreak of dementia.

Audiences will see a family learning how to adapt after the one who takes care of them can no longer care for herself and the inevitable shift in balance begins.

"It's incredibly telling," Newell said. "She is the person who needs the most care and yet she is most concerned about the well being of her family and the artists she's trying to help. Gladys loses a lot, but she never loses the things that are important to her."

Follow reporter Mindy Lucas on Twitter at twitter.com/MindyatIPBG.

Related content:

• Lucas: 4 performances in 4 genres this week in area arts, Jan. 14, 2016

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Lucas: Hilton Head's Lean Ensemble will shine a light on memory loss in 'The Waverly Gallery'."