“A charming and insightful story of bisexual love and friendship.”
How We Begin is a funny, warm and perceptive show about the relationship between two friends-turned-lovers, exploring bisexuality, unethical non-monogamy and the ways in which we weave narratives about ourselves.
The charming storytelling of playwright Elisabeth Lewerenz balances humour with heart, and picks up on queer perspectives that are rarely given voice. Throughout the show we return to the refrain “this is how it began”/ “how it ended”, a device that playfully highlights the messiness of real human stories that have no definitive beginning or end point. Instead it is all about a collection of moments, which we see through a series of snapshots into Helen and Diana’s relationship. These insights into their relationship are full of clever observations that feel familiar and true to life, watching as a queer woman. Performers Talia Pick (Helen) and Emma Lucia (Diana) bring the dynamic to life with believable chemistry and naturalistic humour – they are immediately likeable and empathetic. With such a reliance on dialogue, no set, and a restricted stage space, the show would be at risk of losing audience attention if it weren’t for director Elizabeth Benbow, who cultivates an energy and movement on stage that keeps it engaging from start to finish.
With only a 60 minute runtime, How We Begin manages to explore its themes with an impressive level of depth and nuance. Diana, who is in a long-term relationship with a man, says the affair with Helen “makes [her] feel queer”; a statement that is heavy with the weight of bi-erasure and invisibility within the queer community, but perhaps equally full of the joy of her first relationship with another woman. Indeed, our two leads acknowledge – and at times delight in – the thrill of their infidelity. In true ironic fashion, Helen expresses frustration with the lack of suspicion they are receiving – although it is benefiting her, she still feels vexed by the heteronormativity that allows their closeness to go unquestioned. The show makes space for ambiguity and queers a familiar narrative, thus creating a complex and intensely human portrayal of these two women and their relationship.
At points, How We Begin relies a little too heavily on list-formats for dialogue and has a slight disposition to tell rather than show. However, the fast-paced energy, insightful commentary and memorable performances make this a must-see. I hope it has a long life beyond VAULT festival.