@ Sloan’s, Glasgow, on Tue 24 Nov 2015
Wee Theaters Glasgow host a monthly event, with a unique format, in Sloan’s Bar. This month’s audience are invited to Glasgow’s oldest pub for a night of music from Luiz Mello in room one, short films presented by The Baltic Film Society in room two and Attune Theatre’s I Trust You To Kill Me performed in room three. This forty minute play, which was originally written in 2012 by Stewart Schiller, is longer than what is usually expected from Wee Theatres, but luckily it’s not a full length production, because it starts to drag out like a long day at the office.
Hannah (Julie Martis) has a job that gives her the say whether to save lives or resources, which she is growing tired of. Her choice becomes even more onerous when faced with a particular file. Schiller’s intentions to raise a debate have definitely been achieved, as his intriguing writing, which is somewhat imaginative, gets your mind buzzing with thoughts. Who gets the right to make this decision? What gives someone the right to live? Is it about how much money you earn, and what you put back into the economy? He is exploring an stimulating notion about how we live our lives: do we act like we really want to be here, or do we exist like we know we are going to die?
The distance has been removed and we are invited closely into their mundane everyday lives, inspired by the writer’s time working in an office. Kate Christie plays the cold hearted manager who focuses her energy on trivial matters, sitting at her messy old desk, whilst they decide between life and death, which is a surreal idea. Simon Devon plays a robot who is used as a tool in their decision making but, who knows, perhaps machines could take over? Who needs morality to make such decisions? Although the overall concept is engaging, the writing could flow more easily. And unfortunately the acting becomes monotonous. There is a lack of enunciation, especially at the end, when it cuts off abruptly, meaning there isn’t a clear conclusion.