'I Wish to Die Singing' Finborough Theatre ***

Genocide, quite frankly is the most repugnant of acts that anyone can bequeath someone as you are eliminating an entire civilisation without a real reason and is there a necessity to stage a play about one of the worst genocides in history? The Finborough Theatre’s production of Neil McPherson’s, ‘I Wish to Die Singing’ allows us to witness the Armenian Genocide through a provocative journey; furthermore the performances were well conveyed.

‘I Wish to Die Singing’ is set during the Armenian Genocide, in 1915 where we are guided on this voyage by a Narrator who explains how millions of Armenians were brutally murdered, as well as, thousands of people were tortured and many were forced to convert to Islam. Moreover, the performance through the stories of several Armenian children whose lives are over-turned by what is occurring. Each child has their own unique stories to tell; such as the young boy (Bevan Celestine) whose future is now uncertain as he was in line to be the owner of the farm and sadly this will only be a fantasy. Throughout the performance, the children are persistently questioned by three menacing soldiers, (Kate Bincy), (Tom Marshall) and (Simon Yarko) who create the environment that on one will be spared from either being massacred, tortured or enforced to change their religions. Progressively, the Narrator states that whist the perplexing incidences were going on, she explains that other countries did not even help the Armenians through this disgusting time and the countries that are mentioned is the United States of American and the United Kingdom, which is really alarming. The youngest child who seems to have been close to her parents has now become parentless due to the Armenian Genocide and to save her life, she is sent to America and is adopted. Thankfully she always remembers her Armenian routes. At the end of this hard-hitting piece of dramatic art, the Narrator supposedly tries to educate us on our responsibilities as a nation to help those who are in urgent need.  McPherson’s narrative is enormously thought-provoking as the play reminds us on how certain countries’ rulers are total barbarians, on the other hand, there’s are some minute moments where the plot is not consistent and lacking in fluidity.

One found the performances by the company of, ‘I Wish to Die Singing’ to be slightly strong as the stimulus of the play is immeasurably bleak and dark and this shines through the actors’ characterisations.  Jilly Bond is superb as the Narrator; in particular her vocal delivery at the many scene breaks in which it does suggest that she is either narrating a documentary or a university lecture. Siu-see Hung is amazing as the youngest child; expressly at the scenes where she openly says that her childhood memories will never be forgotten, plus her movements and diction is wonderful as we believe that she is a child.

Tommo Fowler’s direction is conventional here; however, Ita O’Brien’s movement direction is magnificent as they have been able to captivate such a traumatic show that challenges your own thought processes on how government figures must help those who are in urgent need of care and assistance. Phillip Lindley’s design is positively chilling as the emptiness of the set reminds us of the stark reality of a situation that is fundamentally inexcusable, in addition to this, Rob Mill’s lighting and video design is vastly unnerving, but in a good way as it encapsulates the horror of the genocide. Max Pappenheim’s sound design is atmospheric as I got goose bumps when the soundscape vibrated through the floor.  Overall, the experience of, ‘I Wish to Die Singing’ to be outstandingly informative, then again some elements do need tweaking.