Alzheimer’s The Musical is a peek into the lives of those who might be getting slightly older in body but who are most definitely young at heart. The musical follows the lives of three women who live at Jurassic Retirement Community, where growing old gracefully seems impossible. If you enjoy musicals detailing the pains of arthritis set to song then this is for you.The musical examines everyday life for Jurassic Retirement residents as they search for love, fun and sex with the help of musical numbers. Interspersed are non-specific scenes of elderly life, such as visits from less-than-appreciative grandchildren, failing body parts and the massive amounts of medication needed to simply stay alive. Advice on how to discuss sex with your grandchildren is facilitated by balloon sculptures, much to the audience’s enjoyment. Whilst certainly amusing the script has some problems, certain parts are stronger than others. The humor throughout is inconsistent and whilst some scenes elicit much laughter others miss the mark. The comedy seems to work best when the women use problems and situations all are aware of, such as the need for ‘nana naps’ and constantly loosing things, rather than the dangers of getting high at seventy. The more relatable problems work better because they connect with all of the audience.We are all aware of the more ridiculous aspects of getting older. As the ladies so eloquently sing, ‘Sh*t happens when you’re seventy’, but, as this show proves, that doesn’t mean you can’t laugh about it.
