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Reviewed by Adrian Sherlock.

Alzheimer's/dementia is not exactly the kind of subject most people would expect to make an entertaining play for the theatre, but with "Daisy" by Terry Mervin, it proves to be a rich source of drama, humour, pathos and even a bit of song. In fact everything one could wish for in a great play is to be found in Daisy. When writing about a meaningful subject like old age, the onset of Alzheimer's or dementia and the impact it has on the people involved, a writer would surely feel a sense of enormous duty and to his fullest credit, Terry Mervin has explored his topic thoroughly and dramatises all the angles. He also avoids becoming maudlin, preachy or overly sentimental, mixing plenty of unforced humour into the play to balance the undeniably moving dramatic power of the story. Director Wolf Heidecker adopts a highly elaborate and creative approach to bringing "Daisy" to life on the stage. In some ways, it is perhaps a little convoluted in its execution at times, but this is a mere quibble. Over all he keeps the pace moving along well and presents us with a well drilled and well chosen cast, who present the story effectively and at times, quite brilliantly.Daisy herself is played with utter believability by the wonderful Claudia Clark who is flawless as a woman slowly losing her way inside herself as Alzheimer's takes hold of her life. The play employs a clever and imaginative device to take us inside Daisy's world. Genevieve Giuffre plays a character called The Librarian, who is seen at the side of the stage rifling through the files of Daisy's mind, in the filing cabinet of her memories, searching for answers and information every time someone asks Daisy a question. This is a touching performance which adds enormous weight to the story. Peter Muir and Amber Hart are a superb double act as Daisy's son and daughter, Will and Petra, who regress to child like bickering as the stress of their mother's illness takes its toll on them. In one of the play's most emotionally charged moments, brother and sister confess how they've been behaving and make amends with each other. There's also an ensemble cast of players who make up the characters Daisy meets when she is put into a retirement home. Tina Rettke gives a sensitive portrayal of the lady who manages the home. Roz Romney, Nick Frcek, Lachlan Murphy and Jacqui Connor all give solid support, while Robert Trott steals the show at times with a vulnerable yet funny portrayal of fellow retiree Ben. But the standout performance of the show was that of Bryan Eaton as Daisy's husband, Jim. His desperation, his fear and powerlessness, his love and dedication to his bride and best friend of so many years is played with great sensitivity and conviction. Along with Claudia Clark, Bryan is the backbone of the whole production."Daisy" ends with an appearance by David O'Brien as a character called The Figure in White. Some might see him as an Angel or perhaps a Mr. Death figure. But needless to say, he brings the play to an end on a truly moving and powerful note.Everyone involved in Forget Me Not's production of "Daisy" can be proud of this show, it underlines the realities of Alzheimers while delivering a great evening of theatre. And in the end, the message of the play is made clear by Tina's character when she says "All they need is your love and kindess."