And I Don't Care How You're Doing Anymore

Synopsis

Contemporary Ukraine, amidst the backdrop of urban struggles and economic hardship

In Natalia Vorozhbit’s gritty urban drama, we follow the life of Lora, a resilient woman navigating the harsh realities of modern Ukraine. Set against the backdrop of a crumbling economy and bureaucratic corruption, the play opens with Lora’s desperate struggle at a cash-point, symbolizing the financial stranglehold on everyday citizens. Her husband Andrei, burdened by a mortgage on their dilapidated flat, shares in her frustration, their relationship buckling under the weight of their circumstances.

As the couple grapples with mounting debts and the needs of their young child Musya, the arrival of a menacing debt collector brings their precarious situation to a head. Lora’s fierce confrontation with this embodiment of their financial woes showcases both her strength and vulnerability. The play deftly weaves in the character of Sakhno, Lora’s friend, whose attempts at financial aid and levity through reminiscence provide brief respites from the oppressive atmosphere.

Vorozhbit’s work paints a vivid picture of urban survival in a society plagued by systemic corruption and economic instability. Through Andrei and Sakhno’s misadventures in navigating Ukraine’s bureaucratic maze, the play exposes the deeper rot within the system. Amidst the relentless stress, the playwright finds poignant moments of human connection, offering glimpses of hope and solidarity in a world that seems designed to crush the spirit of its citizens.