Glory was only 14 when they put her away, convicted of assault for throwing crab apples at the postman. She's 18 now, in the adult prison, in solitary, and her sentence is being endlessly extended for the minor offences she commits whilst in custody. Glory wants to go home, but can't stop herself from behaving the way she does. The loneliness is breeding despair...
Gail is a hard bitten Corrections Officer, an old pro who'll obey whatever orders come from above - her pension is a powerful incentive to talk herself into believing it's all for the good of the prisoners, no matter how brutal the reality becomes.
Glory's mother knows it isn't Glory at fault, it's the system. Her daughter might not be perfect, but she doesn't deserve this, and her mum fears what the consequences might be - and her fears are realised.
Judith Thompson's indictment of the Canadian justice system is based on a real story, showing a culture that's incapable of dealing with mental illness, and seems to do all it can to promote poor mental health. A system that doesn't listen, kills hope and damages the lives of all it touches. Although there's some interaction between Glory and Gail, and one phone call from daughter to mother, most of the drama is played out in soliloquies, each actor giving powerful testimony to the dehumanising aspects of their roles and giving each character a sense of depth.
This production by Windsor Feminist Theatre is certainly emotional, and there's a particularly strong performance from Kelli Fox as Glory's long suffering mother, but it doesn't always manage to generate the expected sense of frustration with the inflexible bureaucracy they are all part of. It's still a compelling 75 minutes and worth a look if you're interested in how patriarchal influences still treat women as second class citizens.
Watching Glory Die is on in the Assembly Rooms until 25 August.
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