I saw CoHo Productions’ Good Morning Miss America on International Women’s Day, which turned out to be appropriate timing, given that across the globe women do the majority of the caretaking for the elderly. In America, that gender disparity is particularly evident if the elderly are still at home, and as baby boomers age, that describes more people every day. Many seniors are relegated to institutions for care, and many of us don’t like to discuss this–but not Phyllis Yes. The well-known Portland visual artist, Lewis & Clark instructor, and newly celebrated playwright has brought this difficult and frustrating topic into the spotlight with Good Morning Miss America.
Good Morning Miss America examines one woman’s journey of assisting her aging mother and stepfather, who want to hold onto each other and their independence, despite their increasing physical and mental frailty. That woman, Jane (Lorraine Bahr), is a successful, busy artist who also doesn’t live near her mother and stepfather, which means facilitating long-distance elder care. Jane’s mother, Doris (Jane Fellows, who also directed), has serious chronic health conditions, but Lou (Rick Sadle), Jane’s stepfather, insists he can manage Doris’ needs. So Jane travels back and forth between their home and hers, managing finances, medications, and plans, while also trying to convince her sister, Cindy (Kelley Marchant), to help out. Complex strata of dysfunctional family dynamics–like parental favoritism, various neuroses, and creepy boundaries–come to light, as both elders’ mental and physical health deteriorate.