Advertisement
Stay in the Loop
BSR publishes on a weekly schedule, with an email newsletter every Wednesday and Thursday morning. There’s no paywall, and subscribing is always free.
It happens to all of us
Anna Deavere Smith's "Let Me Down Easy' (2nd review)
Steve Cohen
Anna Deavere Smith's Let Me Down Easy has been described, by its producers as well as Dan Rottenberg's BSR review, as primarily a meditation on health care, with death getting secondary mention. I imagine the producers skewed this intentionally: People might not want to buy tickets for a play about death.
Yet the play says much less about health care than about how people die. At least, that's my perception. And I must admit that my reaction to this play is personal.
One of my best friends, only 59 years old, is dying. As far as I knew, Jeffrey was in good health until two months ago, when he collapsed and was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease caused by hepatitis C. We had a couple of conversations afterward, but soon Jeffrey deteriorated to a point where now he's confused and unable to speak as he lies in a bed in the hallway of a nursing home 300 miles from where I live.
Who's next?
I feel guilty because I'm more upset about Jeffrey than I was about my parents' final days. Jeffrey is younger than I. And he was so bright, so articulate. If this could happen to him, could it happen to me? I wake in the middle of the night, tortured by such thoughts.
Before seeing Let Me Down Easy I sought ways to cope. Physician. Rabbi. Therapist. I attended a useful talk by Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
None of these dispensers of wisdom produced as much calming effect as the enlightenment that came from Deavere Smith's play. Much of the explanation lies in the diversity of perspectives that she chose. Hearing so many people talk about their experience gives a sense of commonality; it spreads out the pain. Some of Deavere Smith's interview subjects shared their fears; others, faced with the prospect of death, put on a front of bravado"“ the cyclist Lance Armstrong, for example.
Hearing all of these confessions gave me partial respite from my anger that Jeffrey had never admitted that he had a problem. The actress/playwright deserves bravos merely for finding so many people who were able to confront and to talk about it.
Unfamiliar voices
For the first time in my experience with Deavere Smith's work, I knew one of her interviewees, and I was familiar with the voices of a few others. To my surprise, Deavere Smith's portrayals didn't actually sound like them. She captured cadences and verbal tics, yes, but not the actual sound. That's a point in her favor: It tells me that Deavere Smith is more a creator than she is an imitator.
The strongest image that comes through is the subject who observed that the dying want to know that they are known, and that they will remain alive in our thoughts. My friend Jeffrey's case illustrates that some patients may not be capable of hearing this assurance when they near their end. Clearly, we need to show them that they are known long before they reach that point.♦
To read another review by Dan Rottenberg, click here.
To read a response, click here.
Yet the play says much less about health care than about how people die. At least, that's my perception. And I must admit that my reaction to this play is personal.
One of my best friends, only 59 years old, is dying. As far as I knew, Jeffrey was in good health until two months ago, when he collapsed and was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease caused by hepatitis C. We had a couple of conversations afterward, but soon Jeffrey deteriorated to a point where now he's confused and unable to speak as he lies in a bed in the hallway of a nursing home 300 miles from where I live.
Who's next?
I feel guilty because I'm more upset about Jeffrey than I was about my parents' final days. Jeffrey is younger than I. And he was so bright, so articulate. If this could happen to him, could it happen to me? I wake in the middle of the night, tortured by such thoughts.
Before seeing Let Me Down Easy I sought ways to cope. Physician. Rabbi. Therapist. I attended a useful talk by Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
None of these dispensers of wisdom produced as much calming effect as the enlightenment that came from Deavere Smith's play. Much of the explanation lies in the diversity of perspectives that she chose. Hearing so many people talk about their experience gives a sense of commonality; it spreads out the pain. Some of Deavere Smith's interview subjects shared their fears; others, faced with the prospect of death, put on a front of bravado"“ the cyclist Lance Armstrong, for example.
Hearing all of these confessions gave me partial respite from my anger that Jeffrey had never admitted that he had a problem. The actress/playwright deserves bravos merely for finding so many people who were able to confront and to talk about it.
Unfamiliar voices
For the first time in my experience with Deavere Smith's work, I knew one of her interviewees, and I was familiar with the voices of a few others. To my surprise, Deavere Smith's portrayals didn't actually sound like them. She captured cadences and verbal tics, yes, but not the actual sound. That's a point in her favor: It tells me that Deavere Smith is more a creator than she is an imitator.
The strongest image that comes through is the subject who observed that the dying want to know that they are known, and that they will remain alive in our thoughts. My friend Jeffrey's case illustrates that some patients may not be capable of hearing this assurance when they near their end. Clearly, we need to show them that they are known long before they reach that point.♦
To read another review by Dan Rottenberg, click here.
To read a response, click here.
What, When, Where
Let Me Down Easy. Written and performed by Anna Deavere Smith; Leonard Foglia directed. Philadelphia Theatre Co. production through April 10, 2011 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St. (at Lombard). (215) 985-0420 or philadelphiatheatrecompany.org.
Sign up for our newsletter
All of the week's new articles, all in one place. Sign up for the free weekly BSR newsletters, and don't miss a conversation.
