Writer-Performer: Noah Wild
How soon do the details of our lives get forgotten by subsequent generations? On the evidence of this solo show, the process is disappointingly speedy. Noah Wild has had to swim against this particular tide, investing a good deal of time and energy. He’s read the letters and diaries his grandparents Harold and Marlene left behind, then turned his findings into the main strand of the show’s narrative.
We’re told how the couple got together when Harold was 24 and Marlene just 17. The affectionate words of the show’s title come from one of her letters. We get a strong sense of the excitement of their new love; the smudged lipstick, the frustration of being parted by the demands of Harold’s work. Sadly, all of this becomes ironic when we hear how their married life turned out.
Interspersed with the emerging story of the ups and downs of three generations of the family is a tale of contemporary heartbreak. Indeed, the entire monologue is addressed to an absent ‘ex’ who, it is acknowledged, is unlikely to respond.
Thus the story is as much about loss as it is about love. While we’re still ensconced in the romance of 1952, the story skips ahead, rather brutally, by fifteen years. We learn of a tragedy never discussed in the family before last year. We realise how strange it is that the odd, relatively trivial detail may survive and be handed down, while some of life’s most important moments can go unshared.
“Who is letting go and who is holding on?” asks Noah at one point. It’s a great question. The way we juggle past, present and future in our everyday lives varies from one individual to another; there are no rules around this. When you hold on to old photographs and documents, is there a pressure to preserve the memory of those who came before you, to tell their story?
Family history may not be the most obvious subject for a play, but it’s surprisingly relatable. And to his great credit, Noah Wild has not succumbed to the usual temptation of dressing up a serious subject as a comedy. It’s actually his youthful sincerity that makes this show stand out. It’s a hidden gem, par excellence.
In doing his best to understand more about his grandparents’ lives, Noah sees some parallels between generations, and patterns repeating. You get the feeling that this is both a blessing and a curse. Gaining insights into human nature is a good thing, of course, but it can also be chastening. Here, the simplicity of young love is shown to jar with the underlying complexity of people and their sometimes conflicting needs.
By opening boxes in the attic, Noah has discovered and shared some difficult truths, giving us a brief glimpse of what was hidden away. Ultimately, this piece makes us wonder how well we really knew some of those who were closest to us.
Runs until 24 August 2024 | Image: Contributed
