A new original holiday comedy, "Noelle", coming to Bethlehem Dec. 16-19, takes a hard, but humorous, look at the plight of seniors who are trying to decide whether or not they should leave their homes.
Residents age 65 and older are the fastest growing segment of the population in Lehigh County, as well as across the country.
"A tsunami is going to hit," playwright Ara Barlieb says. "And the resources just arent there for the elderly."
According to Barlieb, while there are 150 case workers for the Lehigh County Children and Youth Services, there are only six for Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services.
Barlieb, who is director of Crowded Kitchen Players, decided to address the issue by writing "Noelle," his play that draws attention to issues facing the elderly.
"About 1 of every 5 people is over 60 years of age," Barlieb says. "And yet services for that population, although critically needed, are in short supply and underfunded. Service providers are severely understaffed. And government response to the looming crisis has lacked any sense of urgency or serious commitment."
Barlieb, who also is on the advisory council of Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services, says he wanted to create a character who was facing mental and physical challenges and wanted to stay in her home, while her family pressed her to move into an assisted living facility.
Barlieb says the protagonist of his play is Noelle Whitlock, an elderly grandmother who is showing possible signs of dementia. He says he wanted to explore what options someone in her situation would have.
He says he built the story around the Christmas song "Noel" since the tone-deaf Noelles one undying wish is that she could sing. The play is set on Christmas Eve at a party in Noelles home at which she displays a series of potentially serious lapses.
"Her family is insisting she has to leave, but she doesnt want to leave her home," Barlieb says.
Since this is a comedy, Barlieb made Noelles concerned family and caretakers all a bit wacky and dysfunctional. They include her deeply frustrated son; a lascivious pastor; a concerned neighbor; a larcenous ex-daughter-in-law; and a devoted county caseworker, all of whom alternately counsel and pressure Noelle to accept their well-meaning, but unwelcome intentions for her.
After she is tested for incompetence, and failed by an intoxicated doctor, Noelle wishes for someone to rescue her from the situation.
Thats when a charming, but uninvited, guest appears at her door and summarily presents Noelle a non-negotiable solution both to her own desire to remain independent and to her familys insistence that she move into assisted living.
"It is very funny and very irreverent," Barlieb says. "The script takes no prisoners and pokes fun at everyone including doctors and the clergy."
He notes the play includes sometimes humorous references to a variety of often sensitive issues, such as sexual preference, politics, religion, social justice, illness, even self-harm and human frailty.
"While we have done our best to honor these subjects by raising them as important issues and by touching upon them obliquely and humorously, remember that we are both message bearers and entertainers," he says. "We share in the mystery of ourselves and our relation to others who are different from ourselves."
He says the cast of 15, many of whom are getting older themselves and have dealt with older parents, became very invested in their performances and even did research on the topic.
"Its really been something to watch," says Barlieb, who also directs.
He says he wrote the part of Noelle with veteran actor Sharon Ferry in mind. Ferry has performed in many plays, including most recently as a judge in Crowded Kitchen Players "Corner Booth."
Trish Cipoletti, also a veteran of numerous Crowded Kitchen plays, also including "Corner Booth," portrays the charming stranger who gives Noelle an alternative.
Other cast members are David Oswald, Suzy Hoffman, Dawn Daignault, Scott VanNortwick, Pamela McLean Wallace, Jerry Brucker, Bruce Brown, Alexandra Racines, Paula Klein, Dan Ferry, Billy Erlacher, Brian Wendt and Thomas Rush.
Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services staff will give presentations before the show and be in the lobby after performances to provide information and answer questions on services and assistance available to those over 60 years of age. Resource materials also will be available.
"Noelle" is Crowded Kitchen Players latest production to promote public awareness about a serious social issue. Previous original productions include "Unspeakable" (child sexual abuse); "A Softening of Her Eyes" (PTSD); "Dogcatcher" (racial injustice); "The Suicide Club" (self-harm); "Topsy Turvy" (censorship), and "Corner Booth" (corruption in the juvenile justice system).
"Our goal is to be entertaining and get the message across," Barlieb says.
Performances are at 8 p.m. Dec. 16; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 18 and 2 p.m. Dec. 19 in The Charles A. Brown IceHouse, 56 River St., Bethlehem.
All audience members must wear masks during the performance unless they're actively eating or drinking. The COVID 19 policy will change as necessary.
All seats are $15, and tickets are available by credit card at www.ckplayers.com, and by and by cash or check at the door.
"Noelle" includes adult language and situations.
For more information, call 610-704-6974.