Writer: Matthew Seager
Director: Andy Routledge
The melodious tones of King Crooner, Frank Sinatra, swirl around the studio space at The Arcola. Jane and Arthur sit comfortably on matching Draylon armchairs, involved in an intimate conversation. They have eyes only for each other, and their body language tilts in. Well-dressed, in a comfy living room, this is a middle-class couple in their own world with private jokes and personal history. The next 75 minutes tell a love story that spans, well, we are not sure. It could be years, it could be decades, but In Other Words charts a relationship that starts with an accidental meeting and moves through time, back and forth, through courtship and marriage, in sickness and health.
When it comes to light and shade, In Other Words, has it in spades. For every schmaltzy moment of giddy romance and the exhilaration of early encounters, there is the creep of change, the shift of uncertainty. When Arthur starts to forget simple things, it’s attributed to age, but the absent-mindedness and inexplicable blanks continue. The doctor confirms Mild Cognitive Impairment, which in 20% of cases will lead to Alzheimer’s. How this diagnosis defines the relationship is at the heart of this narrative, which is a deeply affecting and moving account of an unexpected health crisis. What remains between two loving individuals when the honeymoon’s over, and life happens; when body and mind go separate ways, and one person is thrust into the role of carer?
The title of the piece comes from the 1964 Sinatra hit, Fly Me to the Moon. “In other words, hold my hand. In other words, darling, kiss me.” This is the song, Arthur and Jane first danced to and becomes a recurring refrain. Skilfully and subtly directed by Andy Routledge, the use of cutting backwards and forwards is seamless, powerfully effective, and mindful of the audience experience.
Instead of a chronological, linear narrative which would be a gruelling tale of inexorable decline, we are reminded that every sick person was once well, every old person once young, and every frustrated, despairing couple were once like Spring lambs. The Sinatra-scape with sound design by Lida Aine means different things at different times. We hear the same song, but the meaning changes as the story unfolds. With spare dialogue, tonal lighting shifts by Will Adler, and the putting on and taking off of a baggy cardigan, the audience is never in doubt as to where we are in the story.
Lydia White plays Jane with nuance: graceful, sensitive and courageous. She’s not a martyr and while patient most of the time, is sometimes at her wits’ end. Her love and devotion are never in doubt, even when she confesses to murderous thoughts. Matthew Seager, the impressive writer of this four-time Molière Award winner, memorably plays Arthur. The physical transformation is sobering as Seager seems to physically shrink in size when in the grip of the illness that takes him.
In Other Words is a simple and pure tale of loving others that will resonate with any carer or those close to Alzheimer’s. With its universal themes and ability to connect with others, it’s no surprise that it’s been seen by 300,000 people in multiple languages across the world. A beautiful, mature, unflinching tale, this is one to catch at the Arcola before this nationwide tour comes to an end.
Runs until 24 May 2025
