Friday, November 04, 2011
'Dusk' deals with end-of-life issues
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Debra Caplan from Allegheny General Hospital wants to spark more conversation about dealing with end-of-life issues. "It's all about listening," says the senior vice president who oversees the hospital's Northside Partnership. To help open some ears, the Partnership, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Forbes Hospice and the Area Agency on Aging on Wednesday will present "Dusk," a 60-minute play that deals with the decision-making process.
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3 comments:
I think that using theatre as an avenue to discuss end of life issues is a great idea, and in an actual hospital nonetheless. Theatre is great at conveying emotion to an audience in a very real, truthful way, which is exactly what a family facing end of life issues needs. This show could help such families face and accept death instead of being in denial over such a surreal experience. It is great to see theatre used as a tool for communicating ideas and emotions, along with just the entertainment value. I would like to see it used in this way more often.
What a powerful topic to write on. Death has the power to really draw emotions out of someone, and i can only imagine how this play will speak to the audience. I do feel absolutely that this type of thing is needed in the world of theatre. Theatre is made to discuss tough topics and confront issues with our psyches. I applaud all these people for participating. That being said, I'm not sure I could participate or even see the production due to the emotional response it would draw out of me. And that is the reason I should see it, and the reason this show should be produced.
I love that these concerned medical professionals are seeking so many different ways to reach out to people on this topic. Their use of lectures, discussion, and theatre seems like a great way to educate people on these issues. I think that presenting this reading at a hospital is a genius idea. When audience members are in a place in which real people are dealing with the issues at hand as the play goes on, how can they not spend some time pondering the play's message? I like that the people who are putting on this reading are so up-front about what they're doing. These are brave individuals because they are asking people to trust them and listen to their advice on a very sensitive, personal issue. As Calvin said, this production is bound to draw some intense emotional responses from the audience, but it seems like these people are educated and are more than prepared to handle these responses and help people work through their feelings. The discussion aspect of this production is what will make it work. There are definitely other types of shows that would benefit from this production format.
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