Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, professional Theatre in Residence at the Oakes Center in Summit, is presenting a new adaptation of Jan Slepian's book How To Be Old: A Beginner's Guide on November 22 through 24. Adapted for the stage by Dreamcatcher Artistic Director Laura Ekstrand, this is the second of the author's works on aging with humor and grace. Her first, Astonishment, was presented in 2011 as a collaboration between Dreamcatcher and The Theatre Project. Slepian has had a long and celebrated career as the author of books for children and young adults. Most recently her work includes these essays, which were written for her retirement community's newsletter. It is these columns, previously collected into a book, that are receiving their debut as a theatrical presentation.
This play takes us through a step-by-step lesson on how to navigate the sometimes tricky journey through an enlightened old age.How To Be Old: A Beginner's Guide includes lighthearted ruminations on the difficulty of such ordinary routines as getting in and out of cars, mastering technology, and finding matching socks. Also explored are the heartbreak of losing a spouse and the pleasure of remembering street games and penny candy, among many other topics.Videos