The Notebook review

Shifting the time period in the novel from the Second World War to Vietnam, and moving the story out of the South (which sidesteps the potential conflict of interracial relationships in a recently desegregated South) further erases images of the movie. Yet this is the same story of a couple faced with the devastating impact of dementia. Plunkett and Harewood are the heart of the show. She delicately plays Allie’s panicked confusion and bubbles with childish giggles when she regresses. Harewood is bright-eyed as he gazes upon her, while curmudgeonly with his over-peppy physical therapist.

Greif and Williams enhance the “memory play” device by having the age-paired couples share the stage often (matching costumes establishes who is who among the myriad of Allies and Noahs), emphasising the always present past for these older characters. Ben Stanton’s unusual lighting design employs moving, vertical cylinders of light that become part of the scenic design as they glow in spots like fireflies or stars in the sky. With a small “lake” on stage, there is often dappled water reflected on the walls.

Michaelson’s songs effectively build the characters at all ages, though Allie benefits the most from a musical interior life. Middle Allie’s lust is humorously sung. Poetically, Older Allie may be struggling to express herself, but her younger selves sing for her to give her back the voice she has lost.