Bertha Cummings reveals the secret life of the elderly. Masquerading as an angelic frail, helpless little old lady to her family, she is in fact an artful and wily mover, shaker, dispensing advice and “health products”.
Quite telling the show opens with how we live by the remote of the television, gate and sprinkler system and with our relationships, only visiting family occasionally. She points fun at the signs of getting old and then proceeds to inform the audience how to use this to your advantage. Some of the scenes were bizarrely funny like her fitness tips on the gym master and pole dancing. It reminded me of an elderly friend who still thinks that he is an irresistible gigolo – the wonderful delusional aspects of the elderly.
Anthea Thompson is brilliant in capturing the resilience of a survivor who refuses to let life get her down. Having only seen her as Kate in Taming of the Shrew – I was struck by how completely different she was and convincing as this wicked old lady.
This is a great show but not for the fainthearted.
