Respect (Birmingham Rep)

There is no denying that the events featured within Lutz Huber’s frank and honest play, Respect, are an interesting point for discussion; however, the success of the performance is the way in which Huber uses the narrative as a method of presenting the idea of Respect to an audience. The play questions the influence of the idea of respect on the way we live within our society, and what impact it has on culture and tradition.

Cem is an accused man for the murder of a young woman whom he has only met a few hours previously. Through the interjection of interviews played out high on the many platforms of Libby Watson’s design and the relaying of scenes during their fleeting relationship the audience is slowly given insight into the happenings between these two young people and how the proceedings eventually turn to murder.

Huber has cleverly chosen this story, based on true events, in order to display and examine the idea of respect through the predominant use of the character of Cem and how the notion of respect can, in this case, even drive someone to kill.

Cem is of Turkish origin and living in Germany; a mixture of Eastern and Western ethics and morals. Throughout the discourse it is clearly displayed how both of these cultures use the idea’s linked to respect, but how their specifics may differ. It may be that the mix of the two has a devastating effect, or that one cultures view-point contradicts the other. At what point do the two juxtapose one another, at what point do they agree?

It is interesting as a western audience we may presume that respect, such as maintaining respect for the family unit, may be more of an Eastern notion. However, when you apply respect and how it effects our decisions in western culture it is still just as ripe as in other cultures such as gaining respect through how much money we earn, what job we have, or keeping the family secret from the Jones’s next door.

The action on stage is a wise choice in order present these questions, a choice that leaves one discussing the merits and disadvantages of the idea of respect not only whilst watching the performance, but long after.

Generally this production, translated by Zoe Svendsen, is a good platform of Huber’s play which was originally banned in Germany due to its relevance to real-life events.

Sometimes there is the annoying repetition of sound effects which tend to distract rather than elevate the action during a few too many black-outs in the transition of scenes.

Whilst the narrative is captivating, it is Lutz Huber’s presentation of the notion of respect which inspired me the most in regards to this work.

– Ben Wooldridge