Reviewed by Jack Grotenstein
Madnani Theatre
Through July 19
RECOMMENDED
Jello Brain, written and performed by Natalie Grove, recounts the story of her mother’s slow mental decline from early onset Alzheimer’s in her mid 50’s. The powerful retelling turned the lively audience I sat down amongst into a sad group of shared commiserates by its end. Exiting the theater, an air of solemnity and reflection was all around.
The show-within-a-show opens on Grove’s character setting up the space. She fixes the curtains, gets in place, and signals the tech crew to start before beginning her monologue, making the experience in the small black-box quite immersive. (It was so an immersive, in fact, that when a real technical error occurred early on, the illusion wasn’t broken, and instead it brought the audience further into the world of the recounting.)
Grove shares her experience of the long, tiresome practice of chronic medical care, including the doctors, whom she either screams at or takes out to dinner; the facilities, which, her mother complains, are never comfortable; and the red tape, which sends Grove into a brief screaming tantrum. A second throughline is Grove’s own health concern — specifically, the results of a genetic test that will reveal if she’s destined for the same fate as her mother — a possible outcome that looms over her for the duration of the show.
Grove’s performance is honest and raw. She describes herself as “a balloon with a hole in it,” rapidly and relentlessly darting to each corner of the room until she’s deflated. Her relationship with her changing environment is excellent (as it must be in a one-person show of this kind) and she is always aware of her surroundings. Grove has taken much care to clearly establish her mother as a character, making it easy to imagine her mother’s reactions and personality. The audience, along with Grove, must watch as her young mother’s spirit slowly fades, and observe her daughter step into a motherly position of her own.
Even given the tragic situation, Grove finds comedy at each demented turn (no pun intended). Her quick wit and ability to laugh at her own struggle and misfortune make her relatable, and the reality of her situation even harder to accept.
One of the standouts of the production is the lighting, whether it be the dreamlike, hazy pink glow that her mother’s presence emits from stage right, or the specials which envelop Grove at times and make it feel as if the world is literally closing in on her.
After this run, Grove will be off to Edinburgh Fringe for another 21-show run. Her story is special, affectively told, and easy to connect to. Should you see it, be prepared to laugh, cry, and think about your mom on the drive home.
Madnani Theatre (Main Space) –6760 Lexington Ave., Hollywood; Fri. July 18, and Sat. July 19. All performances at 7:00pm. https://events.thestagecrafts.com/projects/12371?tab=tickets Running time: approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.
