Pru Payne: a play about two people with dementia debuts at the Arizona Theater Company

By Kathy Ritchie
Published: Friday, March 31, 2023 - 3:24pm

Tim Fuller
A scene from the play "Pru Payne."

A production of the play "Pru Payne" debuted earlier this week. It’s a love story, with a twist. The two main characters both have dementia. 

"'Pru Payne' is about a literary critic who has a reputation for being rather vicious and destructive ... who develops dementia," explained Matt August, Kasser Family artistic director at the Arizona Theatre Company. 

He says the character Pru falls in love with a man who also has dementia. And because she’s no longer consumed with the trappings of status, "she sees him for who he is and the two of them are able to fall in love as they are shedding the preconceptions of their past lives," August said. 

August says they collaborated with the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.

"One of the things that we have been really kind of focused on is, what is the experience of the caregivers as well as the individual?" he said.

So making sure audience members are aware of resources if they are a care partner or know someone who is. And that's where BAI comes in. Heather Mulder is with the institute.

"There are so many things we can take away from a production like this," she said. "The community, becoming more aware of dementia, of caregivers and what’s happening with them, what they're going through as well."

"Pru Payne" runs through April 16. 

Tim Fuller
Pru has Alzheimer's disease. She falls in love with a man who has dementia.

Aging Arts + Entertainment