Victoria’s modest but highly professional Target Theatre is performing a play that offers the gift of understanding and insight into the world of dementia sufferers, their families and caregivers. The central theme of I’m Still Here: each person has value, and that value remains strong when society looks beyond the disease of dementia and focuses on the person.
The play asks audiences to consider what gives people value. It clarifies the importance of living in the moment, to value and enjoy thoughts and feelings of joy and humour and comfort that most people forget to experience day to day – like the smell of the sea, or the glow of the sunset, or watching the activities of a busy garden bird. Everyone can share in these little experiences, not only the person with dementia, but their families and caregivers as well.
Although Target Theatre is small, it speaks volumes, and it is comprised entirely of senior actors – more than a few are in their eighties. There are about 14 regular actors (over age 55), plus an artistic director and a volunteer seven-member board.
The company, performing in the region for well over 25 years, continually brings seniors’ issues to light with their highly polished productions. They have written and performed more than 22 plays dealing with a wide variety of seniors’ issues including, death and dying, romance, sexuality, loneliness, elder abuse, injury prevention, osteoporosis and residential care. The repertoire also explores seniors and driving in a comical musical titled Age on Wheels.
Comedy is an important component of Target’s productions. The company doesn’t portray doom and gloom, but rather their messages are full of hope, optimism and joy. Currently being researched, written and workshopped is a play about isolation, and a piece titled No Big Deal, a play that explores prostate cancer.
The company uses very little in the way of sets, costumes and props (although feather boas and egg timers have been used). Target’s plays are all about language, words, researched subject matter, and the truths that face seniors. This approach makes the productions even more valuable as a vehicle for a better understanding of important seniors’ issues. Judith McDowell, one of the company’s directors, says the productions “are not Spiderman” and “are not works of fiction.”
The actors are disciplined and rehearse weekly, some arriving by handyDART. Then it’s coffee (with real milk) and brainstorming, “blocking,” reading lines, discussion, research and consultation with writers and other professionals and, behold, the play is on its way to creation.
Target Theatre will and can perform at any venue to all types of audiences. A modest fee pays travel expenses and other production costs.
Long-time member June Boston says, “There are no young starlets in Target.” Another member adds, “And no casting couch either.”
Although the company is often booked to perform at conferences, care facilities, churches, theatres and educational institutions, they are adaptable and have worked in musty back rooms of community centres, dim basements, and even cobwebbed barns where hay bales were used as seats.
As Target continues to produce its plays and move its audiences to a greater understanding of the human condition, they show the stamina, courage, vision and wisdom that keep them going despite the current recession that has caused the closure of other arts organizations. They are a non-profit society and like many other arts organizations, have had their funding drastically cut and struggle to pay the bills.
For more information on Target Theatre, performances and bookings throughout the Victoria region, please email: target@islandnet.com or, call Judith McDowell at 250-479-8342, email: judemc@shaw.ca
For an extensive array of information on Target, including videos and interviews, information on membership, productions, present news, volunteering etc., check out Target’s website at www.targettheatre.ca
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