Review: Right Before I Go (Soho Theatre)
Review by Daz Gale
Content warning: This review discusses suicide at length.
September marks Suicide Awareness Month, and with it comes the London transfer of Right Before I Go. Following a well-received run at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the show has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons, but to comment on that would detract from the powerful message inside the show. Pitching up at Soho Theatre for three performances only, including one on World Suicide Prevention Day, the result is a powerful albeit slightly problematic watch that has the power to do a lot of good by encouraging important conversations.
First, let me explain the lack of star rating attached to this review. I want to clarify that it does not suggest the show is bad at all. Quite the contrary, in fact. For the first time, I found myself uncomfortable with the notion of awarding this show a star rating, due to the subject matter within it. This is not a show to necessarily enjoy, but one to connect with and feel its impact. No star rating could accurately convey that feeling, so I have opted to exclude one this time around.
Written by Stan Zimmerman (a writer on The Golden Girls and Gilmore Girls), Right Before I Go highlights the raw struggles of people from all walks of life who have had their lives impacted by suicide. Written in honour of Zimmerman’s friend and performed as a tribute to him, the play uses the real suicide notes from people including celebrities, veterans and bullied teens as well as looking into those who were affected and those who survived attempts.
Using the very real words written by these people creates a raw and unflinching look at a subject that is so seldom spoken about. There still seems to be a lack of understanding around it, or even a reluctance to talk about it, with one misconception spoken about during the show being that to talk about it may be to encourage others to do it themselves. In the same way campaigns have increased to encourage men to talk about their mental health, Right Before I Go attempts to remove the stigma behind this, to make sense of something that can be so difficult for those left behind to understand, and hopefully help anyone who is suffering or struggling.
Different cast members read out the letters at each performance, with this one featuring Claire-Marie Hall, Jessica Lia Berry, Paul Bigley and Tosh Wanogho-Maud among those joining Stan Zimmerman. It is a difficult subject matter, and my understanding is that each cast member is attached to the project due to their own experience, having had their lives impacted by the subject matter at some point. Again, this creates a raw and extremely emotive watch, with Wanogho-Maud especially convincing as he embodied multiple people when reading their letters, with tears visible in their eyes. Each of the named actors here was remarkable given how difficult the words must be to read, bringing sensitivity and authenticity to the words and helping spread the message Zimmerman intended with this show.
Abigail Morris directs the one hour piece, making sense of Zimmerman’s idea and narrative structure and finding ways to convey the words and the message while protecting the sensitivity and health of all involved. It is no easy feat and lines could easily be crossed - while Right Before I Go is still a difficult watch and one that will undoubtedly evoke extreme responses in people, it is a crucial one - particularly on World Suicide Prevention Day,.
Each performance is followed by a talkback immediately after the show has finished. This is important as the subject matter is so strong, it would be almost negligent to allow people to immediately go back into the outside world without the opportunity to take in what they have just seen and speak about it. Helped by mental health professionals in the audience, it transpired that the vast majority of the audience (myself included) had been affected by suicide in their lives. Cast members and audience alike were all given the opportunity to share their stories, speaking the names of those they have lost and even breaking down as they remembered. It was an incredibly powerful thing to be a part of - difficult to talk about, but ultimately it felt healing. There is an important message behind Right Before I Go - one that has the power do to do a lot of good in the world and help a lot of people.
The show certainly isn't perfect but nor should it be. Raw and real emotion can never be planned, and the authenticity that comes across is as powerful as the idea behind the show. So often, those who are left to deal with the repercussions following the loss of a loved one struggle to make sense of it all. While Right Before I Go certainly doesn’t have all of the answers, it instead focuses on the process, sense of solidarity and understanding - things that prove crucial in allowing those affected to heal. An imperfect show but one of the realest hours of theatre I have ever attended, and one that no questionable casting choices could ever detract from, as much as they might try.
Right Before I Go played at Soho Theatre for three performances earlier this month. For more on World Suicide Prevention Day, see https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/world-suicide-prevention-day/