Can't Care, Won't Care, Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh Fringe

It's impossible not to warm to Sophia Walker.  Before the show began she was chatting away with the audience, asking about other shows people have seen, suddenly she dives offstage and immediately returns, in character, to launch into her solo performance.    In it she alternately takes the part of a a prosecuting lawyer, and the care worker accused of seriously neglecting her 'service users'.

It's an intense subject, using real life cases as a basis, where the government cuts to services for vulnerable people are hugely increasing their risks of suffering physical damage and even death.  Walker hits very specific targets, both the high level policy and low level management being shown to be part of the problem.  At the heart of the drama is a woman trying to her best for the people in her care, even if that means bypassing the rules.  It's the constant battle to reconcile the structure provided by laws and codes against the real life actions and limitations faced up to daily.  It's about objectivity being the sledgehammer which rejects the nuanced subjectivity that reality demands.

This situation is clearly outlined with explanations of government policies and bureaucratic procedures, and there are times when it feels like diatribe overrides drama.  There are very few laughs and it felt like it could do with a few more to lighten the ongoing onslaught of facts and the effective cruelty that is the result of the cuts.  A little more satire and less lecture would improve this as an entertainment.

Nevertheless this is an impressive performance and well worth a look if the subject matter is of interest to you.

Can't Care, Won't Care is on in the Banshee Labyrinth at 13.40 until the 30th.