Photo courtesy of Jan Mason Cast members Bob Schwoch and Paula Nemes perform in a scene of “Moments of Joy,” a one-act play about woman facing dementia.

MARSHALL — The creators of a one-act play about dementia said the project had an emotional impact –and not only on the audience.

“It was very emotional,” playwright Maureen Keimig said of “Moments of Joy,” which was performed Saturday in Marshall. All of the cast members’ lives had been touched by dementia in one way or another, she said. “It kind of brought us together.”

“Some of the (audience) feedback that we got was, it hit close to home,” said Jan Mason, assisted living director at Boulder Creek in Marshall.

“Moments of Joy” was a collaboration of Boulder Creek Assisted Living, the Marshall Area Dementia Awareness Network, and A.C.E. of Lyon County. The play, written by Keimig, tells the story of a woman with dementia, and the ways her family members respond to the situation.

“We were trying to educate people through the arts,” Mason said.

Mason said she had first talked to Keimig about a year ago, about possibly doing a play about dementia. Keimig said as she wrote “Moments of Joy,” she also reflected on a neighbor who had dementia.

“I kind of did this in honor of her,” Keimig said.

In telling the fictional story of Carol, a woman experiencing dementia, Keimig said she wanted to make sure she got things right.

“I wanted to research everything, to know what she was feeling,” she said.

Keimig also worked with Mason to help make sure the play was accurate, and to bring in some of the family dynamics that can happen when a person is experiencing dementia.

Mason said “Moments of Joy” showed what local collaboration could do. The play was put on with “zero budget,” and only six rehearsals, at the Marshall-Lyon County Public Library.

“It was truly the community that came together,” she said.

Mason said cast members did an excellent job in portraying the family at the center of the story.

“Paula Nemes did a phenomenal job” playing the role of Carol, Mason said. She said cast member Bob Schwoch also showed the vulnerability of his character, who doesn’t want to give up on Carol.

“Everyone did such a good job of bringing it out,” Keimig said of the emotions in the play.

Mason said she also hoped “Moments of Joy” could be a resource for members of the public. A recording of the performance was being edited so it could be played online, and be aired on Marshall’s public access TV station.

Mason said she and Keimig had talked about future performances, and possibly extending the play to cover more topics related to dementia care.

“What we plan to do next year is a continuation, with Carol going into a facility,” she said. “Part of it is going to be educating people on those steps.”