| Izzy Rabey at Edinburgh Fringe |
For the Love of Spam |
| Sierra Sevilla and Pleasance , Pleasance Courtyard- Beside , August 19, 2024 |
The Lower Dyfi was the point of convergence for the mediaeval territories of Deheubarth, Powys and Gwynedd. With the coming of the parliamentary franchise it was the point where the Fro Cymraeg, the non-conformist Liberal tradition and plumply prosperous Tory Wales all met. It is a landscape studded with mine ruins from a time when the Southern valleys were still a barely touched rural arcadia. For a while, on the banks of the River Einion, it was where the Royal Mint made the coinage for the king's realm. It is a layered, richly textured territory with a political and social ambivalence to it. It is also the home territory of Izzy Rabey, a director who in a matter of years ascended from Aberystwyth's Arts Centre to London's Royal Court Theatre. In the 2020's she has a tripartite role in the culture of Wales: as a music-maker, a columnist for “Golwg” and a director of performance. To make culture for Wales is not an easy role; the vileness of social media- swift to assemble, eager to assault, impatient of nuance- is a fact of modernity. Yet to attempt artistry is to speak against orthodoxy. Simple-mindedness is the death knell of art. For those who venture, it can only be repeated “Aus der Kriegsschule des Lebens. — Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker.” The Fringe in Edinburgh has 3983 offerings in 2024. Every artist wants to stand out. “For the Love of Spam”, directed by Izzy Raby, has a title to catch the eye. There is a continuity in the aesthetic choice; the linkage with “Junoon” can be seen. * * * * The description of the production runs: “A comedic, multi-sensory, participatory one-woman show dedicated to two things: canned meat and colonialism. Find out how this (delicious) canned meat symbolises modern-day colonialism and threatens the very livelihood of a whole civilisation in these West vs East political games. “Can this formerly Catholic, angry and God-fearing woman help educate (and feed) the masses, all while "liberating" her island? Performed by CHamoru/Filipina theatre maker Sierra Sevilla, originally from the island of Guam and passionate about shifting immigrant narratives. Recipient of the Pleasance's Charlie Hartill Fund 2024.” * * * * The critical response from Edfringe Review reads: “Initially greeted with an altar to spam (spamaltar?) complete with candle and a cross piled together out of spam tins, this performance was nothing short of wonderful. Sierra Sevilla is warm, comic and a natural storyteller, and the feeling I had was that I was sat in her living room listening to her life story. “Sevilla delivers a tale of conflict, occupation, love (for spam mostly) and belonging. With dance, audience participation and a cooking demo, she describes how during natural disasters the US government would provide the citizens of Guam with tins of spam, easily prepared without electricity and a staple of her childhood. “Here, Spam is used as a symbol for colonial oppression, as the US took over fertile lands of the CHamoru people for military use, ‘gifting’ spam to its citizens. Sevilla questions whether her love of spam is a form of defiance, or an acceptance of the way her people have been treated. After having been liberated by the US from Japan, effectively handed from one occupier to the next, gun ranges were built over sacred CHamoru burial grounds, and its coral reefs dredged by military ships. “This performance tells the struggles of her identity as a legal citizen of the United States but feeling out of place when she moved there for university, For the Love of Spam discusses the ignorance and dismissal of colonial powers over their territories. Facing snobbery towards her choice of cooking spam when in uni dorms, unsuspecting audience member Mike played the role of problematic roommate number 5. She explains that never having tried spam means you were never out of power, always had fresh food, or had never been colonised.” “....A truly interesting and unique tale, with a style of humour that would appeal to a wide audience.” * * * * A second reviewer for Edfringe Review wrote: “As the title suggests, For the Love of Spam really is a proclamation of love for Spam. As the audience filters in, a giant cross made up of tins of Spam comes into view. In comes Sierra Sevilla, our Spam fanatic, holding a candle that displays the face of Jesus. This love for Spam is nearly on a religious level. “It is through Sevilla’s incredible storytelling abilities that the audience comes to understand this deep-rooted love. The actress is unfalteringly energetic and exuberant from start to finish, even if some moments are rather indulgent as Sevilla bursts into unexpected song on multiple occasions. “For all its fun and games, For the Love of Spam explores a serious topic. We learn that Sevilla is from Guam, a US island territory, and that she grew up under the constant risk of typhoons. When typhoons did hit Guam, Sevilla fondly remembers sharing a tin of Spam with her family (which was provided by the increasingly present US military). “As the audience learns, it is Sevilla’s love for Spam that keeps her connected to Guam throughout her life. When she moves to Boston, and then to London, Spam is a home comfort that forever reminds her of the Spam-fried rice that is a beloved specialty at home. Through reenacting ludicrous scenarios (often with the help of audience members), it becomes clear that Sevilla’s distance from home has only complicated her relationship with Guam and, specifically, America’s looming presence.” “While some moments are a little cluttered with musical interludes and spontaneous dancing, there is no doubt that the final scene is hauntingly thought-provoking. Sevilla’s message is clear: this is a play about colonialism and its lingering, every day repercussions. But also, Spam. Go and see it for yourself, and you might even get to try one of Sevilla’s Spam.” * * * * An audience member left their response: “Thought provoking and funny. Sierra is a wonderfully open and likable person and draws you in as she makes you laugh, think, and feel a little sad. Changed my view of Spam too.” |
Reviewed by: Adam Somerset |
This review has been read 298 times |
