Theatre
De-terminated
Spazju Kreattiv

In a series of interviews that journalist Herman Grech held last year, it became very clear that there are two very vociferous opposing factions about our most contentious taboo: abortion.

These seem to exist in their own comfortable echo chambers cushioned by social media, and when they challenge each other, it simply degenerates into a mud-slinging match, where no one emerges as having made a valid contribution to the discussion and everyone leaves still firmly convinced that the others are wrong and that they are right.

Grech decided to address this extreme sense of self-righteousness which both camps have, in a bid to look at the situation not simply as white/black, right and wrong, liberal or conservative, but as a spectrum of individual situations, none of which are as clear-cut as may be assumed.

Thus his series of monologues, De-terminated, which sheds light on the situation through some of the anonymously told stories he has heard. The production, in collaboration with Spazju Kreattiv, is a relatively balanced presentation of seven stories – intercutting each other and occasionally linking together.

Social worker/psychologist Sarah, played by a very determined Charlotte Grech, puts forward her opinion, in direct conversation with the audience, explaining why the voices of women who find themselves having to take such a drastic, often heart-breaking decision, need to be heard, without the prejudice attached, while Jes Camilleri plays Joseph, her moral rival, who puts forward the message that it should be our moral duty to preserve life above all else.

There cannot be blanket assumptions about why people have such strong views in favour or against abortion

While both actors present their characters effectively  they represent the current factions and are the ones whose edges need to be softened, it is the individual stories which give a richer, more nuanced background to the debate.

Alan Paris plays Jacob, whose irresponsibility led Stephanie (Jo Caruana) to get pregnant, it is only at the end that we realise these two monologues are linked. Stephanie is the typical Maltese Catholic school girl and is the voice of many modern young women. Her indignant and often sly humour is part-confidence, part-bravado and is portrayed very ably by Caruana.

Jo Caruana plays Stephanie, one of the characters with a strong opinion in the abortion debate.

By way of contrast, in an excellent performance Marta Vella plays the much more reserved Christine, whose deteriorating relationship and subsequent rape lead her to take a drastic decision.

Paris also plays the pitifully poignant Konrad – a reformed man who regrets his debauched youth following years of sexual abuse and his subsequently forcing his girlfriend to have an abortion.

Isabel Warrington, conversely, plays Rebecca, an American woman presumably brought over to Malta by Joseph’s faction, who recounts how deeply upset she is when she finds out that she is both the product of rape and the result of being so very unwanted that her mother gave her up for adoption because the law did not allow for abortion in her state.

The unique quality of each individual story teaches us that there cannot be blanket assumptions about why people have such strong views in favour or against abortion and that passing judgment does nothing to help those directly affected.  The rigidity of the law is criticised and it is very evident that Grech’s choice of topic, scripting and direction are meant to start a healthy, logical discussion about abortion. De-terminated speaks about how people’s lives – both those of the mothers, their partners and the unborn children, are all pre-determined by our country’s very fixed societal ideas and more so, by disapproval from both ends.

It is certainly one to watch because it asks us to determine, not who is right or wrong, but to determine the best way forward, with the best step being calm and open conversation.

De-terminated is being staged at Spazju Kreattiv tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday at 8pm.

Tickets may be obtained at https://ticketenginex.kreattivita.org/?eventname=De-Terminated