Are You There?
by irene korsten
Are You There? is a dark comedy that takes place in the foyer of Autumn Dale Village over one long Friday.
Autumndale is an aged care home and Pia is the energetic, loud, accidentally foul-mouthed director of first impressions. The foyer is her domain but the foyer also draws everybody to it, the fearful, the needy, the dying so directing first impressions is like herding cats.
Pia, a captive audience chained to her spreadsheets and relentless work calls, keeps the residents amused and safe, while behind the scenes her personal life is descending into chaos.
Her constant front-of-house companions for the last ten years have been 90-year-old Lauren and 75-year-old Colleen.
Lauren spent her entire life with a deep sense of duty to God but now has been reduced to one questioning phrase. Is this a real question? Or simply a remnant of a thought, a last pulse from her slowly vanishing mind.
Colleen came to Autumdale for a brief respite after her mother died and then - never left.
Pia's personal life is falling apart.
Colleen's world is ruled by her dead mother.
Lauren lived a life of faith, and now asks 'are you there?'
But who cares because, thank God it’s Friday...
Realistic & rarely seen scenario for those who haven't been exposed to the nursing home setting. Well acted & insightful.