Clever as Clever: Four Days of Grace

Mr. Billington was spot on: it was fascinating. And intriguing. And Rachel Marwood's performance certainly was impressive. Drew's play was brilliant. A masterpiece. I enjoyed every moment of it. There's something magical about theatre. It makes no difference to me whether it's West End or a small fringe venue. In fact, I rather like venturing off the beaten track, discovering little secrets you might not come across were you not looking out for them. The New Diorama was not new to me, having seen Drew's debut 'Public Interest' there last year. I was thrilled to be accompanied by several friends each of whom responded as enthusiastically.

'Four Days of Grace' takes the audience into Grace's kitchen, with lino floor, kitchen table, kettle and countless bottles. Here we meet Grace. She tells us her story in her own words. The captivating monologue allows us to get to know her. And then we get to know all of her. As the scene unfolds, assumptions are shattered, prejudices challenged and stereotypes exploded. With each line, we are offered an opportunity to come closer, to sit at the table, and to hear what it is that this woman has been through to be in the place she now finds herself. Without a fridge. But without so much more besides.

Reviews for Four Days of Grace

The Public Reviews - by Sheila Cornelius

Remote Goat - Aline Waites

Comments

Table. Apple. Penny.

Whilst there were several places I might have been that morning, I wouldn't have been anywhere else. The practitioner from the Memory Service arrived promptly. I liked her instantly. Mum was nervous. I think I was a little, too. It's been a difficult year. "It's Friday, it's the fourteenth of December and I'm at home..." No problems there. CAMCOG, or the Cambridge Cognitive Examination is a thorough assessment tool used to assess the extent of extent of dementia, and to assess the level of cognitive impairment. The standardised measure assesses orientation, language, memory, praxis, attention, abstract thinking, perception and calculation. "Table. Apple. Penny." Three everyday items that were introduced at one point, and then referred to again later on. Again, Mum was able to recall each. I am reminded that the only three certainties in life are old age, sickness and death. Not

Glass half full? Glass half empty? Or perhaps the glass is broken

I am, constitutionally, a glass half empty gal. I will always first acknowledge what I don't have, what I have lost, and what it is that I am seeking. I tend to overlook my strengths, concentrating only on those bits of me that are underdeveloped or weak. I refer to myself as a realist, but in doing so compliment myself and insult those who genuinely are simply realistic. My modus operandi is to identify what's not working and acknowledge this before seeing more clearly what functions perfectly well. This has its place: I edit others' written work pretty well. My fastidious attention to detail serves me, and the author. Accuracy counts, for me and I have an excellent memory. I can remember a great many of my sessions with clients verbatim. Even this asset is something I can, and do, diminish the true value of, by concentrating on 'I should have said...' or 'why didn't.... occur to me during the session?' Earlier this week I was crudely

Pausing in the sunshine

And so, chemo is over. My best friend's diary has been chocker... Line cleans, blood tests, scans and 18 weekly doses of the gruelling treatment itself. Summer seems at last to have arrived and with it, we hope, some time, peace and space. She is, we acknowledged over a rather yummy luncheon served to us beneath the beautiful canopy of creepers and climbers at Petersham Nurseries, an inspiration. A small group of us gathered to celebrate her forthcoming marriage. The sun's rays joined the warmth we all have for this very special woman. Warmth and, in my case at least, pride. It is the greatest privilege to call this woman my best friend. She continues to epitomise my understanding of grace. Our bodies are fragile things. Our minds are frailer still. In her composure and wisdom, she possesses an outlook I can only aspire to adopt. From you, dear Charlotte, I learn and I learn and I learn. The only person who is educated is the one who has

The Reward is the Journey

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