Dying: A Memoir

In the first sentence of Dying: A Memoir, written by Cory Taylor, she talks about her purchase of euthanasia drugs; she bought hers online from China. Her book was published just before her death from melanoma-related brain cancer on 5 July, 2016. She died peacefully in palliative care at the age of 61, leaving behind a beautiful legacy.

Benjamin Law has adapted the book into an honest and carefully considered play for the Melbourne Theatre Company, directed by Jean Tong. Genevieve Morris performs the role of Cory Taylor as soulful, and yet at times quaintly comical, as she tackles the more sensitive themes of the play.

The play begins in the doctor’s suite at the hospital where Cory is first diagnosed with cancer. Morris delivers a fine performance as the writer, who felt it her personal duty to pen her dying memoir, telling how her life was cut short after she discovered a cancerous mole growing at the back of her knee. Law, who knew the writer when they were both working on their doctorates, has provided an imaginative interpretation that captures the essence of her life.

Taylor’s writing is prose-like poetry, captivating, engaging and a sheer delight to read. Tong offers her audience a sensitive portrayal of an artist who yearned to live her life to the fullest. Her strong, sensitive direction ensures a powerhouse performance from Morris.

Tong works effectively with set designer James Lew to maximise the space with minimalist ease; rotating orange lounge chairs convey various locations described in the memoir. Digital numbers projected on the wall to impart years (lighting design by Rachel Lee) are used effectively as story unfolds in fractured time sequences.

Morris captures the writer’ exquisite language of in an enchanting description of her home in Arita, known as the birthplace of porcelain in Japan, where she lived with husband Shin - a painter. Morris recollects this time with authenticity, embodying truth, love and memory of the couple’s time together, walking the Arita riverbank discovering the broken porcelain pieces discarded into the river centuries ago. She grieves for her two now adult children, knowing she will miss seeing them again.

Sound (composition and sound design by Darius Kedros and Todd J. Bennett) has been crafted to accompany the words as spoken by Morris, providing atmospheric depth to enhance various significant events as they occurred in the book.

Taylor’s story is bound up with love and dying, and how the latter is a solo experience. She recalls her mother (when she was alive and needed support) advocating Exit International group, a collective who gather to share and compare their experiences with dying. Morris relishes these comical characterisations that offer light-hearted humour and respite, including an excellent pathos-driven parody of a thirty something female psychologist taking notes while offering a strategy of mindfulness to tackle dying thoughts.

Dying: A Memoir is a truly remarkable theatre that shines with excellence, from a team of creatives who have crafted a sensitive and thoughtful theatrical experience for their audience.

A masterful piece of work, Dying: A Memoir was one of President Barack Obama’s top ten reads of 2017.

Flora Georgiou

Photographer: Pia Johnson