GETTING THROUGH IT is a performance in two Halves. Michael Rosen uses his literary craft in the first half to talk about the death of his son at the age of 19. Who died from meningitis.
Rosen isn’t angry or bitter. It’s a beautifully crafted recollection of memories from the night before he died, to the body bag taking him from the house, and the little day-to-day stuff that we do with friends and family.
The second part of the performance Rosen talks about his almost fatal battle with Covid-19 in March 2020. The hospital put him into an induced coma and he spent six weeks in Intensive Care.
Patients in critical care have diaries kept by the Doctors, caregivers and anyone else involved with their recovery. Rosen extracts some of those entries to weave the story of his recovery as he has no actual memories, as you’d expect from being in a coma.
However, some of the team involved have made themselves known to Rosen since, one of whom was on a bus and another at a children’s book signing. He explains that these were touching and met with floods of tears. Nothing is stronger than human kindness when you stop letting other things overshadow life and emotions.
COVID-19 has left its scars though. Rosen has lost his sight in one eye and hearing in one ear. He described how it feels to relearn how your body feels differently after a life-changing illness. Everything he knew about himself has now changed.
Although the auditorium was almost full. The words and performance felt personal. He tells you these stories like an old friend who wants to share their innermost thoughts with you.
It’s a captivating and moving performance as we the audience through Rosen’s word understand what’s it feels like to be human. Through his memories of his late son Eddie he recalls the small things they did together.
GETTING THROUGH IT breaks Life down to the memories we make with the people with love and care for not about how much we spent on each other or grand gestures. One day a memory is all any of us will become.
Five Stars.
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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