WoFF Life is Shrinking

CCA

Sun 4  October 2015

Attune theatre’s latest offering explores contemporary issues in ‘Life is Shrinking’. This performaance takes us on a journey through the minefield of insecurities that come with online dating. Raven haired Hannah wants a man,  but wonders how online dating will allow the organic natural process to flourish that happened pre internet with the help of chance. Several attempts on Tindr humorously show us how she negotiates her disastrous attempts to find a soul mate.

With facebook, twitter and instagram all at her fingertips she doesn’t want to miss anything and checks out potential boyfriends with a judging attitude that is all too dismissive of best intentions,  aware that she has hardened from more naive permissive experiences earlier.

A well meaning mother who is a bit too eager to be a grandmother unwittingly pushes Hannah to take the plunge and before she has time to draw breath, ‘ It’s not weird is it? ’ she is immersed in the world of , ‘ unwanted dick pics ‘ and hopefuls like Gavin, 21, 1.6 miles away. Just from his profile photo Hannah decides he is,  ‘a quinoa , kale and all that crap kind of guy.’

Online dating can be a source of great entertainment value for many but Hannah is too stressed in her search for a man she can take to a family members wedding. It is this desperation not be seated at the singles table that her mother is organizing that perhaps clouds her enjoyment of the process and reflects the very real pressure society sets to be seen as not only socially but sexually active.

Unable to block out the voice in her head that leads her to believe she has an unwanted gift…that of permanently wiping off the face of the earth any suitors that don’t measure up to her healthy expectations from a male love interest. Quickly becoming left swiping happy she deletes married men with gay abandon much too the amusement of her new schizophrenic self. Mistrusting of her new ability she seeks council and ends up on anti-depressants. Cyber stalking, blocking, and typically untrained and unsympathetic NHS 24 staff make Hannah feel incompetent and patronized when she phones to ask for help with her psychotic breakdown.The unhelpful advice to, ‘Think positive thoughts and can I help you with anything else? Ok have a good night’ is funny but resonates the point that we live in a messed up world that pretends to care. This dark modern fairy tale gem directed by Stewart Schiller is brought to life by the accomplished acting skills of Julie Martis of Strathclyde Theatre Group and actor at The Glad Cafe’s ‘Write It’ and Glaswegian/American actor Simon Devon .

Reviewer: Clare Crines