Liv: Sappic Shakespeare (Camden Fringe) Review
Written by Mia for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Twelfth Night may be my favourite Shakespeare play (it depends), and not least because it is one of the few stories that has a proper love triangle. I’ve always thought that Viola was a little bit enamored of Olivia and have been waiting to see a version that granted my wish.
Enter Liv - Twelfth Night fan fiction.
Lady Liv (Beth Birss) mourns her brother, whilst Vi (Tanieth Kerr) reinvents herself as Rio after a shipwreck claims the life of her own brother. When their paths cross in the graveyard, will the love sought be good or will they pine in grief?
Short and sweet, with a simple yet effective set, this two-hander from Headache Creative is a beautiful homage to the homoerotic nuances of this Shakespearean comedy.
Cleverly combining the original script with new material (some of which seemed to come from other plays by the bard), we see the same mistaken identity play out, but with a much happier outcome. We all know that Orsino is a bit pathetic, so watching feisty Vi ensnare Liv through her wit speaks volumes.
It is a little static at times, and could have benefited from more sexual tension through closer proximity of the two actors. In a traditional setting this might have worked, but as a contemporary piece - even taking into consideration the hierarchy - having the actors so far apart for much of the performance lessened the intense rawness of the words.
One option could be to expand the script slightly, to allow for a little more character development, removing the need for Rio to reveal her backstory quite so soon. It also loses a little of the humorous element, which - although less evident during Olivia and Viola’s stage time - could have been included discreetly to honour its original place as a comedy.
However, with a current run time of under an hour, Liv is an impactful piece that considers gender identity, grief, and societal expectations. Moving, powerful and clever, it is the sapphic fan fiction we’ve all longed to see.
★ ★ ★ ★
