PROVO — “We met working on the original production… and we got engaged in the space that we first did the show … and now we’re married.”
What started off as a student project several years ago at BYU not only brought two collaborators together in marriage, but also planted the seeds for a bold new theater company. Paper Weight, written and directed by Skyler Denfeld, will be Vicariously Staged Productions’ second show at the Hive Collaborative in Provo – opening May 15th. Paper Weight centers on Rosie, a woman on her deathbed saying her final goodbyes to loved ones. As her life fades, we witness a series of her memories unfold, revealing her journey with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Stylistically, the story is told in a non-linear fashion while exploring grief, love, and what remains when memory fades.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Skyler Denfeld (the playwright and director), Jared Kamauu (the producer and actor, playing Oliver), and Eden Bostrom (the lead actress, playing Rosie) to talk about their process in bringing a new work to life.
Originally titled Full of Too Many Unnamed Things, this play, now called Paper Weight began as a devised piece Denfeld created during his time at BYU.
Photo Credit: Bea Albino
Denfeld explained, “Originally we wanted to devise a piece that had something to do with what we leave behind. This concept of an autobiography of humanity.” As they played more and more with the idea of memories, it slowly morphed into being a piece about Alzheimer’s. He was inspired by the passing of his grandmother with Alzheimer’s and a poem he had written in her memory. This poem served as the spine of the piece and one of the characters even reads the poem throughout the play.
Jared Kamauu joined the original production as an actor, where he met his now wife, Melanie Kamauu – the stage manager at the time. Brandon Merrill, a friend of Denfeld, composed original music for the devised draft of the show three years ago and returned to collaborate again on the final production, contributing a blend of new and returning material. The score leans heavily on piano and carries a 1970s soft rock influence.
Denfeld described the music as, “more abstract when seeing sequences in Rosie’s mind” while transition music being “more concrete or melodic sounding.” Music carries a significant role in the story as Alzheimer’s studies show a direct link between deep memories and music. While researching, Denfeld discovered the documentary, Alive Inside. It discusses the impact that music has on people with dementia and served as a helpful resource in their research. Denfeld explains that those with dementia “become more animated or alive after they’ve listened to music.” This inspired a scene where Rosie hears a song tied to her grandfather and briefly seems more present and “alive”.
While sitting down with them, it became abundantly clear the emotional connection all of them had to the story. The story truly lives in their hearts. Through personal experiences, conversations with healthcare professionals, and lots of research, they have taken great care to portray Alzheimer’s with authenticity and respect. This is not shocking as their mission is to “produce and promote works that are a mirror to life.” Their commitment to creating art that is relatable and raw is refreshing. Denfeld believes that “people will walk away from it like, oh, that was interesting to see something that wasn’t the typical hero’s journey or a typical plot.” I, for one, am eager to see their use of non-linear storytelling to portray the decline of Alzheimer’s.
I was interested to see that they will be providing an option to livestream the production. COVID challenged live theater to become more accessible with livestream options but now, five years post-COVID, most of those possibilities have ceased. When asked, they all believe that this is a story that extends further than Provo, Utah and they hope the livestream option allows loved ones all over the country to experience this story. Bostrom stated, “I would argue that it’s a pretty timeless story. I think everyone in their lives will be a caretaker at some point. And they will also be taken care of.”
The universality of the story makes it all the more reason that people everywhere should have the chance to see it, no matter where they are. Kamauu said, “One thing we really want to do with this show is help our community think about the importance of memory and the connections we build due to shared memories.” Paper Weight isn’t just a story about forgetting—it’s a reminder of what binds us together: love, music, and the fragile beauty of remembering.
