DETROIT — The premise of The Realization of Emily Linder sounds somewhat contrived at first glance. A control freak of a mother says she has had a premonition of exactly when she will die, and has very detailed instructions for her daughters regarding her funeral.

However, an unanticipated plot twist makes for a riveting second act, particularly the last few scenes, which make up for a slow-paced first act. The play at the Detroit Repertory Theatre is written by Richard Strand. It is billed as a comedy, but definitely has dark moments, which are quite satisfying and thought-provoking. The ending is definitely not cliched, as anticipated.

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Emily Linder, a retired French Professor, is returning to her Iowa City, Iowa home from the hospital and is recovering from injuries sustained during a fall in the shower. A difficult and high-maintenance woman with little patience, she had fired her last aide, which is why she didn’t have assistance that might have prevented the fall. Audience members with elderly parents will nod their heads in recognition of the role reversal children experience while taking care of their parents at the end of their life.

Janet, one of Emily’s daughters, is a no-nonsense Chicago lawyer, who takes it upon herself to hire a new caretaker, Jennifer. Janet makes it clear she’s not going to stick around to take care of Emily, and even this accident and hospitalization is an unwelcome intrusion on her time. Emily’s other daughter, Margaret, is the antithesis of Janet. She’s sensitive, emotional and very willing to play second fiddle to her domineering mother and sister.

It’s obvious the relationship between mother and daughters is strained and has been for a long time. Neither daughter will spend the night in their childhood home, with Janet making quick exits to her hotel while Margaret drives to her home two hours away, using her family as the excuse for why she can’t stay over.

Emily’s premonition of her death is accompanied by a laundry list of demands that she expects the daughters to accommodate without question. She assigns Margaret to write and deliver the eulogy, since the one Janet had delivered at her father’s funeral had been too humorous in Emily’s opinion. Margaret clearly doesn’t want the task but is unable to say no to her mother. The next day, she reads her first draft and Emily’s reaction takes her straight back to her childhood, where nothing she did was good enough.

In one of the play’s softer moments, Emily realizes she is being harsh. Her attempt to soothe Margaret is heartfelt and delivers some of the play’s most engaging dialogue when she conveys that she appreciates the differences between her two daughters and each is loved for who they are.

The play is directed by Harry Wetzel, who also handled set design and construction. The acting is top-rate across the board, with Sandra Love Aldridge perfectly capturing Emily’s difficult personality in a way that elicits sympathy from the audience. The pain Margaret feels from being the “lesser” daughter is palpable and Leah Smith portrays her distress without being annoying. Yolanda Jack captures the tough-talking, action-oriented Janet while still making the character likable. Jaclynn Cherry is a perfect selection as the perky but no-nonsense Jennifer. She knows how to deal with older people, and it’s a relief to have her around.

The play runs two hours, including a 15-minute intermission. There were a few minor direction problems involving the timing of the scene-ending lighting on opening night. The lighting when the family is watching TV nicely conveys the way the light from the box falls on their faces. Costumes were unremarkable. Janet could have been dressed more “lawyerly,” particularly her shoes. The set, which shows the entryway and living room of the Linder home, was well-executed and detailed, including photographs on the walls showing the multi-racial family.

Overall, the play masterfully pulls off being both humorous and thoughtful. It is time well spent in Detroit’s little gem of a theatre, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary year.

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