Plaques and Tangles

Synopsis

Megan, a vibrant woman in her 40s, begins to experience the harrowing early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. As her perception of time fragments, she oscillates between past and present, confronting younger versions of herself and the ghosts of memories that may or may not be accurate. Jez, her supportive but increasingly bewildered husband, tries to anchor her to the present, while their children, Lila and Clem, grapple with their own responses to their mother’s deteriorating condition. Interwoven with these personal struggles are the personifications of the disease itself: Plaqueman and Tangleman, who embody the scientific and grotesque reality of Alzheimer’s, providing a surreal and often darkly humorous commentary on Megan’s decline.

The play is a poignant exploration of memory, identity, family, and the impact of dementia. The play captures the disorienting experience of living with Alzheimer’s through its fragmented narrative structure and the fluid transitions between different time periods. Wilson’s writing is both tender and incisive, providing a deeply human portrayal of a family facing the ravages of a relentless disease.