Twitterhated is one of the first “live/in person” performances of the 2021 Cincy Fringe. It appeared on one of the outdoor stages adjacent to the Know Theatre, drawing a large crowd simply excited to be in an audience again. Though there were moments of it being very sunny/hot with lots of environmental city and traffic noise, I found the venue to be very successful. In particular, the sound was outstanding. (The program did not credit anyone from the production, so I’m assuming it was handled by Know’s tech staff.)
The play is an ambitious attempt by author Julie Locker (also one of the primary cast members) to make a statement about the complexities of communication and creatively used Twitter as a model for how people naturally seek out clear, sometimes binary answers to nuanced issues in our lives. The plot surrounds two female roommates, each struggling in relationships and angry with how respective significant others have responded (or failed to respond) to their needs. One woman suggests that Twitter is a great forum to express those frustrations and to air them out, both in their relationships and with people in general; and this is where the play’s cleverness comes through.
The two friends (Zoe Rose Davidson and Locker) are supported by an ensemble that is sort of an animated version of Twitter itself (Geoffrey Barnes, Brandi Botkin and Craig Branch). The ‘Twitters’ are excellent and funny without going over the top, acting as Twitter’s seductive voice in the women’s heads, urging them to post, reply, retweet and so on. They reminded me of how seductive social media can be when it’s so easy to post something or make a comment without much thought regarding the consequences.
It’s the consequences that surface as each woman’s complicated issues get reduced to short statements or accusations, closing off real communication and hurting feelings along the way. They decide to start a podcast for “Woke Women” ostensibly to help others with similar relationship issues, but it deteriorates into giving pat, sometimes hurtful advice and, most importantly, not bothering to acknowledge that there’s another side to literally every argument. Along the way, feelings and friendships suffer, while strangers make comments that seem more and more random and uninformed as they go on.
The strength of the script is how it illustrates that social media wants it to be an easy outlet for deep emotions but with no real depth. It shows very effectively why we’re in such a polarized place right now, because communicating this way ironically isn’t really about communication at all. Eventually, the friends come to realize this and take some steps toward making things better (inviting more detailed conversation in their podcast for starters) and their friendship survives — but Twitter does as well.
Twitterhated isn’t a perfect script. But that’s sort of what a Fringe Festival is for — to put strong ideas out there and be provocative. As a whole, this was a tight production, well-directed and performed, with a lot to say.
The Cincinnati Fringe Festival takes place June 4-19. For more information, show descriptions, a schedule and tickets, visit cincyfringe.com.
This article appears in Jun 1 – Jul 6, 2021.