To "take leave" of someone is to say farewell with finality.  It's not simply a see you later, there's gravity in those words, it's goodbye forever.

The concept of taking leave of one's mind, and the overwhelming consequences inherent in that loss is the focus of Nagle Jackson's poignant play, "Taking Leave," which runs through Sunday at the Oyster Mill Playhouse.

At the center of "Taking Leave" is the Pryne family and its ailing patriarch, Dr. Eliot Pryne.  Eliot is a renowned Shakespearean scholar (ironically specializing in "King Lear"), who is slowly losing his grip on reality.  He has three grown daughters: Alma, the oldest, who refuses to accept the truth of Eliot's condition; Liz, the diva-esque TV actress who thinks her father would do best in a nursing home; and the youngest, Cory (short for Cordelia, a not-so-subtle Lear parallel), her father's favorite.

The most interesting thematic element of this play is the presence of Eliot-1, a younger version of Eliot who is invisible to his daughters and his caregiver.  His presence serves two purposes: as a narrator for the audience and as Eliot's guide, helping him when he gets confused or loses his words, almost acting as sort of a sage-fool to Eliot's Learlike disintegration.

The Oyster Mill production, produced in association with the Greater Harrisburg Alzheimer's Association, tells this sadly relevant story with great respect for the subject matter.

Mike Stubbs is deeply moving as Eliot, expressing the frustrations associated with taking leave of his senses with admirable honesty.  Fred Lauver also is convincing as Eliot-1, although somewhat stiff at times.

The dynamic among the three sisters is real and touching.

Melissa Markovic's portrayal of Alma is strong, as is Stephanie Via's Liz.  Ali Krasner's performance as Cory had some tender moments, particularly with her father at the end of the play, but there were a few times when she seemed a bit too young for the role.

Honey Feeney was a joy to watch as Mrs. Fleming, Eliot's nurturing, but overwhelmed caretaker.

The production was staged nicely and made good use of the actors and the well-built set.