Local play brings awareness and hope for a cure

  • Published
  • By Janae' Daniels
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  Those who have suffered or know of someone who has suffered from Alzheimer's knows it is a debilitating, sometimes long-term disease. 

There are still a lot of unknowns about the disease and any awareness is only helping the cause and research. Although Weldon Payne, author and playwright, has not personally experienced the effects of Alzheimer's, he writes about a family and their trials and tribulations in "Beyond the Rain." 

"Beyond the Rain" is based on a woman whose personal hopes and desires have been put on hold due to her aging mother who suffers with dementia and is solely dependent on her daughter. Other family members live away and do not believe the distress of the caregiver daughter, but a young Vietnam veteran brings a glimmer of hope to the daughter's despair. 

For Annie Flanigan, who works in Aerospace Testing Alliance's information technology department's Tullahoma location and a producer of the play, this book was her mother's reality. 

"My maternal grandmother, Grandma Hoppstock, suffered from Alzheimer's disease in the last years of her life," Flanigan recollected. "After a reading of this play, I felt especially touched by the story as I had witnessed my mother during the period of time that she served as the loving caregiver of my grandmother. It helped me understand the types of things she experienced as a caregiver. 

"The full-time caregiver is privy to the complete picture, which includes the moments of clarity, in addition to the moments of confusion, disorientation and sometimes out-of-character behaviors that a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's disease exhibits. 

"Often, we, who are on the outside providing only occasional support to the full-time caregivers, are not able to fully understand the behavioral changes that the caregiver is dealing with on a daily basis," Flanigan explained. "I was moved by the story and felt more understanding of what my mother experienced while caring for my grandmother." 

Flanigan knew that her friend and fellow co-worker Suzanne Oliver, who works at the center's Advanced Missile Signature Center as a mechanical engineer, had also been fond of the idea of bringing this play to the stage. 

"The play was set in the 1970s and during that time it was never called Alzheimer's," Oliver, also a producer for the play and is the current president of the Community Playhouse, said. "It was always an elderly disease, described as dementia or hardening of the arteries." 

According to Flanigan and Oliver, three local organizations - South Jackson Civic Association, Community Playhouse, Inc., and Millennium Repertory Company - are jointly presenting this play as a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association. 

"I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled that each of the three organizations enthusiastically agreed to take on the project to benefit a separate good cause," Flanigan said. "In addition to presenting a play of significant meaning to our communities, we were also enthused about honoring and supporting a local author and playwright, Weldon Payne, by bringing his pertinent work to life on stage." 

Tiffany Maicke, area director of Outreach Alzheimer's Association Mid South Chapter, is honored and excited about the project that will benefit the organization with financial support and with education about the disease. 

"The play not only will raise much needed funds for the Alzheimer's Association but will also raise awareness," Maicke said. "So many do not even realize they have a local Alzheimer's Association available to them in their area so this will help people know we are in the community and are a resource they can lean on." 

According to Maicke, Tullahoma's office is at 201 W. Lincoln Street. They support groups for caregivers, host educational events and have one-on-one care. Brochures and a lending library with books and videos are available in the office for people to check out. There is also a toll free number 800-272-3900 that can be used 24-hours, 7-days-a-week. The Web site is www.alz.org/altn. 

Flanigan hopes that other friends and families will feel a new wave of understanding as they get a peek into the life of a loving caregiver and her mother. 

"I hope this project will provide comfort and support to the caregivers, education to other friends and loved ones, and financial aid to assist in education and research to find a cure and new treatments to improve the lives of all those involved." 

Oliver said that although she hopes a lot of money will be raised for the Alzheimer's Association by staging this play, it is more important to raise awareness about Alzheimer's and the help that is available in the community. 

"We do these kinds of projects more for the awareness and to get the play out in the community for people to see." 

Performances are slated for Oct. 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee Oct. 25, at 2 p.m at South Jackson Civic Center in Tullahoma. All Tickets are reserved seating at $10. For reservations, call (931) 455-5321 or e-mail sojack@lighttube.net. 

Noel Clements, the show's director, stated "'Beyond the Rain' has universal themes; it is encouraging and inspiring. Audience members will relate to the entertaining characters and will be surprised by the action this play brings to the stage."