MY NIGHTMARES WEAR WHITE by Grace Thompson. Theatre Centre Incubator. Aug 6 at 5:15 pm, Aug 7 at 2:30 pm, Aug 8 at 8 pm, Aug 10 at 10:15 pm, Aug 12 at 9:15 pm, Aug14 at 2:15 pm. See listing. Rating: NNN
Grace Thompson’s dark but funny autobiographical solo show documents her eight-year struggle with Still’s Disease, a rare and severe form of Rheumatoid Arthritis, which turned her life upside down. Like a medical diary brought to life, Thompson recreates defining moments from her harrowing ordeal: the mystery surrounding her initial symptoms, surgery with unsympathetic moralizing doctors, trying to hang with oblivious pals and eventually seeking help from a nice but frustrating naturopath.
Thompson’s observational humour about waiting rooms, the psychological effects of illness and dumb YouTube advice videos comes off really well, and has lots of potential. But bits that rely on jarring voiceovers and a creepy nurse figure who lip syncs lines spoken by Thompson are hit-and-miss – intriguing ideas yet to be successfully integrated.
