Ten Minutes To Midnight
One Act Stage Play In Five Scenes
By Jule Briese
Adapted from “Shared Conversations - Glimpses Into Alzheimer’s”
Authored by Jule Briese & Wayne Briese.
This play is part of an educational package designed for medical and non-medical professionals and community members. It honors the legacy of my late husband Wayne Briese giving personal glimpses of what it can be like to be challenged by Alzheimer’s. It also speaks to MAiD (Medical Assistance In Dying) as a compassionate end-of-life choice. The intent is to both educate and encourage discussion.
Anyone interested in exploring the possibility of using this educational package is invited to contact Jule dementiamaiddoula@gmail.com
Characters
Narrator: Introduces and ends the play. Gives context to each scene.
Wayne: A physically fit senior diagnosed with Alzheimer’s who has made an end-of-life choice for Medical Assistance in Dying- MAiD
Jule: Wayne’s partner of 52 years who fully supports his decision for MAiD
Time
The play takes place over a period of 4 months.
Narrator
(Spotlight on Narrator DSC)
In January 2018, Wayne received his Alzheimer’s diagnosis from the Brain Health Center in Vancouver, BC. Thus began a four-year odyssey ending January 6, 2022, when he embraced a very peaceful death through medically assisted dying.
From the time of his diagnosis, Wayne expressed his desire for MAiD and never once wavered from this choice. Wayne painted two powerful images when referring to Alzheimer’s. He described Alzheimer’s as a black board erasing memories of his life. The emotional distress he felt was captured with the image of a snow globe being shaken. His thoughts scattered in all directions. Each of the 5 scenes in Ten Minutes To Midnight is based on recorded conversations that paint a picture of what living with advancing Alzheimer’s can be like.
There are 5 Scenes
Scene 1 Who Are These People?
Scene 2 Who Are You?
Scene 3 A Serious Illness Conversation
Scene 4 How Do These People Fit Into My Life?
Scene 5 Who Is This Stranger?