I can remember when my Grandmother, the absolute love of my life, was diagnosed with dementia as a result of her Alzheimer’s Disease. We were all devastated by the reduction of this great woman. There was a flurry of family meetings to determine what we were going to do about Grandma. Dot, a play by actor, director and playwright Colman Domingo perfectly captures the dark and surprisingly funny- at times- play about dealing with a parent who has dementia.
In the Shealy family home just a few days before Christmas, Dotty and her three middle-aged children gather with so much more than the holidays on their minds. Their anxieties go far beyond finding a suitable blue spruce for the living room: this wild and moving dark comedy, served with a large helping of the crackling humor that only families can incite, grapples with aging parents, midlife crises, and the heart of an inner city neighborhood.
Dot touches the spirit in a way that’s gut wrenching and glorious; it hits you in the heart while it hurts right down to your funny bone. It’s no surprise that Dot is so good. Domingo has made a career out of being great at what he does garnering Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, and Drama League Award nominations and an OBIE and Lucille Lortel Award. Currently the diverse entertainer is also starring in AMC’s ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ ( a winning television show franchise that also boasts Danai Gurira (Michonne, ‘The Walking Dead’ and writer of the amazing play Eclipsed starring Lupita Nyong’o).
Dot is directed by five time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, who is returning to The Vineyard Theatre after her masterful work directing and choreographing The Scottsboro Boys a musical in which Domingo was also a member of the cast receiving a Tony nomination for his performance. Dot premieres Off Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre February 3rd through March 20th 2016.
