Eve Miller
Built upon Americana folk music, Southern charm, and commentary on gender politics in religiously fanatical groups, Luscinia, a retelling of Ovid’s Philomena and Procne, transports us to a fundamentalist Christian sect in the American South at the height of the Great Depression.
Only at Fringe would you be waiting outside of a delayed show and the lead actors come outside to lead a sing-song of folk music. Gray Baker, Lauren Patten, and Ella Kennedy’s chemistry was palpable even from this impromptu performance, endearing us to them even before they slipped into their roles of sisters and ‘sisters’ on stage just moments later. The plot follows Mela, Louanne, and Daisy-May as they bicker, work, and find strength through song to survive the roles that they are forced into by preacher and wannabe cult leader Bo. Bo’s quiet danger glints through the cracks in his charisma from the start, and quickly threatens to consume Mela as she dares to stand her ground against him.
The music is the beating heart of this production, and the raw emotion in Baker’s voice is as affecting as it is beautiful. The music is woven into the fabric of the piece seamlessly, heightening moments of joy, fear, and solidarity. It is bolstered by the shadow-puppetry of birds behind the sheet on the washing line that makes up the backdrop of the stage, grounding us in place, time, and nature. The music and shadow-puppetry is also used to great effect in a storytelling section which allegorises Daisy-May and Bo’s marriage as a bedtime story to their unborn child – I only wish that there had been more moments to utilise these effects which added so much pathos and meaning.
An easy pitfall to stumble into when wrangling a myth into a more contemporary context, the ending feels slightly rushed and tonally jarring from the earlier sections of the play – a little re-tooling would go a long way towards making the ending feel earned and allowing the audience’s emotional journey to catch up with the pace of the action. Similarly, the fight choreography and special effects could be reworked to create more impact; in a play about violence, these elements can make all the difference.
Bursting with music and an enthusiasm that is impossible to ignore, this production is presented with deep commitment to its message. Charming, affecting, and prescient, Luscinia is an ambitious retelling of a myth steeped in solidarity with survivors of abuse.
Drink recommendation: Sweet tea, to settle your nerves. You deserve it sweet.
You can catch Luscinia at Main Space at Venue 13 from 7-28 Aug at 19:45 (60 mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Isobel Jacob
Salvador Kent
