'A Good Death'

Image from the review published on 31 March 2018 in The Straits Times.

In spite of the heaviness of the subject, I still went for ‘A Good Death’, presented under the umbrella of Esplanade's 2018 season 'The Studios'. It was a one-woman show by nicely carried off by Karen Tan for the 90 minutes. Written by Faith Ng and directed by Chen Yingxuan, the story follows palliative care doctor at the hospice, Dr Leong (played by Karen Tan) as she journeys with her patients in their final days, also questioning her own abilities to deal with the deaths of her loved ones when the time comes, especially those of her parents. We see her emotional journey, her breakdowns, her thoughts and her pain, all raw and real.

Karen Tan is a brilliant actress, and it isn't difficult to imagine the other people she's interacting with as she slips into their portrayal as her own dementia-stricken elderly father, exasperated brother, and as her many patients. The stage set, sound and lighting help to create all the moods and ambient associations with the different characters and emotions.

More than exploring what constitutes a good death, it talks about how the caregivers and patients both suffer heart wrenching emotional upheavals. We all have loved ones who are stricken with a form of debilitating illness. My heart aches when I keep hearing old folks talk about how 'my life is cursed' or 'this is retribution'. Really? Perhaps I'm too naive in thinking that people ought to walk the path of light and not darkness right from the start. If retribution exists, then there ought to be penance, isn't it? Gene mutations and infections are the quirks of life that aren’t the least bit discriminatory. One could have the healthiest lifestyle, but the worst luck in the genetic bingo. It's aging and mortality. It's up to each of us to find the faith and strength within to carry on, either as a caregiver, or as a patient.