Take Care
"This isn't hard. This is easy. Sticking it out for your family, that's hard."
Take Care
by Ellen Denny
2 F / 1 M
90 mins
Comedic Drama
Live Percussion (Vibraphone)
Minimal Set / Props
Synopsis
Having paused her career to raise her daughter, 42 year old writer Johanna Dunham is finally plotting her grand return. She’s even one-upped Virginia Woolf and found the perfect 'house of one's own’ where she can write. But when her husband suffers a stroke, Johanna is thrust into life as a caregiver spouse and single mom to 12 year old Lucy. After a disastrous visit to a caregivers support group, Johanna is on the brink of driving off into the night, when she nearly runs over Len, the handsome young firefighter-next-door longing for an escape of his own...
A funny, messy, honest look at surviving life's curveballs.
What audiences are saying...
“The heartfelt story unfolded with grace and grit in this touching script.”
“90 minutes of sheer enjoyment”
“Really moving and funny”
“A great script... Its blend of humour and tenderness are so resonant with real life.”
Production History
Take Care premiered at Here for Now Theatre Company in Stratford, Ontario in August 2022. It was directed by Jan Alexandra Smith, with movement direction by Patrice Bowler, lighting design by Stephen Degenstein, and costume and set design by Monique Lund.
Original Cast
Sara-Jeanne Hosie as JOHANNA
Emma Cuzzocrea as LUCY
Tenaj Williams as LEN
With live vibraphone scoring by Max Lindsay
Photography by Terry Manzo
Developed with support from the Toronto Arts Council
LUCY
Why isn't Dad saying anything?? He opens his mouth, but all that comes out is-
BONG from low on vibraphone. Lucy and Johanna’s mouths snap open then drift shut.
