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Clare O'Brien

The day I cared for Carrie


Gothenburg Fringe 2024 in review: You're Needy (sounds frustrating) Review by Clare O'Brien


Carries brother Ross greets me at the door. He quietly introduces himself in the manner of one accustomed to hushed tones. He tells me everyone is concerned about Carrie and she is still in the bathroom or words to that effect. I follow him up the narrow staircase, noticing an unusual smell I can't place, maybe something herbal? The weather outside is hot and the air is humid as we mount the stairs. He explains that my job is to sit with her for a little while and help her with a few things

she might need.


He offers to look after my things, taking my overstuffed bag. “I have a lot of baggage” I say nervously, trying to make light of the situation. In return he hands me a tray shaped basket with “A few things Carrie might need.” He explains there is a stool beside the bath for me to sit, that he'll be only half an hour but to call if I want to leave sooner.


He lets me into the bathroom. It's warm, the air is wet, the strange smell is pervasive and a very strange looking girl is in a bath filled to the brim, swimming with petals and flowers amidst a greenish fog of bath salts? She appears alien and otherworldly. I sit as requested on the stool provided and thank Ross as he leaves, closing the door behind him.


Carrie can't see me, she has cucumber slices covering her eyes and seems intent on deep breathing. Carrie's face is covered by a plastic facemask, only her full lips protrude. She also has on a scuba eye mask. Her hair is twisted around a perm noodle over the top of her head. She wears a long-sleeved skin-coloured costume and has wrapped her legs in layers of cling film. Once she has removed some of this paraphernalia we introduce ourselves to each other.



What follows, I have to say is intensely private and I am not at liberty to divulge too much, care giver to cared for confidentiality you understand. Only that once I looked into her eyes I was determined to help Carrie as much as I could. There were moments during the proceedings when I became so drawn into her hyper-sensory world that I wondered at and dangerously questioned my own logic. What she said seemed to make so much sense.


Carrie is needy and knowledgeable she noted "You live in the mind" in return I told her the lines on my face are my life. This holistic experience assailed all of my senses in the most unexpected ways. Never mind Alice down the rabbit hole, are we going down the plug hole? Carrie quite literally uses all these supposedly healthy means and techniques. She takes self-care to the extreme, to the point of overuse and abuse. It's as twisted as her hair around the noodle on her head.



When Ross arrived to rescue me, I mean collect me, it felt like days had passed not merely half an hour. I couldn't help but blurt out how that very morning I had collected some fallen autumn leaves, and though some were a little frayed at the edges, had holes in or were uneven in colour they were still beautiful. Carrie relaxed a little and smiled.


On the way out Ross asked me how I felt she was doing. I said I thought she was making some progress and that she had helped me too and to tell her so. It was important for her to know that. Meeting Carrie under these circumstances was an intense experience. It's hard to see my bathroom in the same light when I decide to surround myself with aromatherapy candles and consume that large red wine.


I really hope she is doing better and if you get the opportunity to assist as a care giver for her I would highly recommend it.


You're needy (Sounds frustrating) by tasteinyourmouth won the Hot Potato award for an outstanding show that addresses current societal issues, at the Gothenburg Fringe Festival 2024.

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rebekah.sykes
Nov 12

Sounds like an intense and profound meeting.

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