At the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park this spring, the Town Players of New Canaan are presenting The Father, a play that offers a clear, often unsettling look at memory loss and its effect on both individuals and their families.
Written by Florian Zeller, the 2014 play won the Molière Award and has been widely recognized for how it portrays cognitive decline from the inside. Rather than telling the story from a caregiver’s point of view, The Father places the audience directly in the perspective of a man whose memory and sense of reality are slipping. Scenes repeat, details change, and characters seem to shift—mirroring the confusion that comes with dementia. Director Deborah Burke describes it as a “psychologically immersive” experience where the audience never quite knows what is real.
That approach connects closely with the work being done just steps away from the theater at Waveny LifeCare Network. Waveny has long been a central resource in New Canaan for senior services, including memory care and support for families dealing with dementia.
Kathleen Benevento, executive director of Waveny’s Navigator Program, sees the play as an accurate reflection of what many clients experience. The Navigator Program is a free, grant-based service that provides 24/7 support and guidance to the community, helping families navigate the challenges of diagnosis, care planning, and ongoing support. It often serves as a first point of contact when memory loss begins to affect daily life, offering both immediate assistance and long-term direction.
The connection between the play and real-world care will be highlighted during talkbacks following the Sunday matinees on April 26 and May 3. After those performances, audience members are invited to stay for discussions with the cast, Burke, Benevento, and two specialists in geriatric psychiatry: Dr. Marco Christian Michael of Stamford Health Medical Group and Dr. Elaina DellaCava of Weill Cornell Medicine.
The panel will focus on recognizing memory loss, understanding the patient experience, and supporting caregivers—issues that are becoming increasingly relevant as the population ages.
For Waveny, the collaboration is an opportunity to raise awareness about dementia and the services available locally. Memory care, as Benevento and her team emphasize, is not only about managing symptoms but also about maintaining dignity and quality of life. Through programs like the Navigator initiative, families can access resources, make informed decisions, and feel less isolated as they adjust to changing circumstances.
The production itself features a cast of local actors, led by Will Jeffries in the role of the father, alongside Kitty Robertson, Eric Schuster, Jaimie Wallace, Cathy Cordaro, and Phil Lorenzo. Adding a unique element, original music is composed and performed by 12-year-old pianist Dylan Conuel, whose work underscores the emotional shifts of the play.
The Father runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. Performances are held weekends from April 24 through May 10 at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park.
Tickets and additional information are available at tpnc.org, or by emailing tickets@tpnc.org.
