Use It Or Lose It by Peter Blegvad is a fascinating radio play telling the story of a fictional GP, Dr Charles Proctor (Peter Blegvad) as he struggles with his failing memory and inevitable decline into the depths of dementia. The story addresses the day-to-day challenges of living with dementia and introduces the dubious ‘Madam Aladdin’ (Dame Harriet Walter) who proposes that dementia should be embraced, releasing us from the restrictions that life imposes on us.
The radiophonic music follows Dr Proctor's descent into amnesia. It reflects the feelings of disorientation in the early stages of memory loss and the blissful feeling of ignorance that can come along in the later stages of dementia.
We hear famous voices reflecting on memory. An excerpt from Emily Dickinson's I Felt a Funeral in my Brain contemplates the feeling of the mind facing its own collapse. Robert Browning's Rabbi Ben Ezra is quoted:
‘Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be’.
The combination of radiophonics, an intricate storyline, and the quotes from the past make this a piece filled with intrigue and mystery — it takes a few listens to fully appreciate it. The challenge of identifying the famous historical names and interpreting their words certainly adds to the appeal. For me, the ideas introduced by Madam Aladdin, about allowing your mind to succumb to amnesia, was the most fascinating part. Overall, well worth a listen.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2012