Do not trust your memory; it is a net full of holes; the most beautiful prizes slip through it. Georges Duhamel

There is a reason eye witness testimony is not always reliable, and it's not to do with attention or intent, but rather the slippery nature of memory.

Years ago, a friend and I went to see Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo and loved it. We were very excited when No pay? No Way! by the same playwrite was announced this year and a third friend got us all tickets. 

Prior to the show, we discussed how excited we were to see it. The third said she chose it because it had been on and she'd missed it. I told her that I thought it hadn't been on because it got cancelled in the lockdowns.

We walked in and I said  "Oh., that's the set from the other one! They must use it for 'Italy' "...but that was not the only familliar thing.

As the play openned, it began to feel very familliar. Then I realised I'd seen it! 10 minutes into the show, my friend whispered "We went to this!".

At interval, we couldn't stop laughing. I said 'But they've changed some of it. This bit didn't happen like that'. She countered 'No that was the same but this bit was different' mentioning a bit I clearly remembered.

So that was the strange part. Not that we both forgot we went to see it together but that what we remembered from it was different. What stood out to us varied. Hardly any of it was the same. Like flowers, insignificant memories bloom and fade.

It made me think about how family feuds start. At a non emotive event, with no importance, two of us forgot and remembered completely different bits clearly. So imagine if money or past hurts are involved? No wonder rifts start and become so heated and ingrained.

"The difference between false memories and true ones is the same as for jewels: It is always the false ones that look the most real, the most brilliant". Salvador Dali

The play was great, but I laughed most at 'comparing notes' with my friend. It was like a real life science experiment. I'd be more worried about the state of my brain but she forgot we went too so I don't think it's early alzheimers.

Ultimately, this faulty memory protects us on the more serious things. And for that I am thankful. Though this time, maybe it was just too full up?

"The heart’s memory eliminates the bad and magnifies the good; and thanks to this artifice we manage to endure the burdens of the past". Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Note the play at the Opera House ends on the 11th May if you want to go. Buy tickets here.

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