"We fear that which we cannot see!"
Echoes Beyond The Door (2010)
Following the background research that Ralph has already undertaken, the play is in the early stages and may be subject to changes as the project begins to take shape.
If a person is truly the sum of their experiences then it is the memory that enables the individual to place them in context. Memories help to shape our understanding of both the world and our place within it. Furthermore pleasant memories can also bring about a feeling of contentment. The loss of this valuable asset can lead to anxiety and confusion.
For many years a family has relied upon the strength of one individual. Their world begins to change when this pillar of wisdom is diagnosed with the Alzheimer's condition.
As with "Who Is Leonard Jones?" the setting for this drama is very basic, but for rather different reasons. Both the stage environment and the other characters that inhabit it are often viewed through the perception of the protagonist. At times this will create an almost surreal and uncertain experience for the audience, intended to mirror the confusion and disorientation of the central character. Rather like a two-shot in a film where the actual camera focus and picture clarity alternate between the characters, so in "Echoes" the reality of the narrative alternates between the other characters and the protagonist.
The central character is an opera loving former magistrate with a very broad knowledge Shakespeare which makes for some interesting exchanges.
Ralph aimed to have the first draft of the play completed by March 2010, leading to a premiere in either November or December. Due to his recent illness and surgery, these dates have provisionally been revised. It is now intended that the play will be completed by the end of June 2010 with a premiere in either March or April 2011
More information will be posted shortly.
Ralph Morse is a member of Artslink, Colchester