Melissa Mancini
Split Second-Game Time, a new work by Molly Rose Williams and Aviva Williams, began in the lobby of ODC theater. The sisters emerged from Robin’s cafe carrying a boombox that reminded me of the one I had as a child some 20 plus years ago. My first thought was, “oh no, please don’t let there be audience participation” (because I am an anxious girly), but my second thought was, “wow I can’t believe that stereo still works” as it played a track of what sounded like a crowded stadium. They stretched and warmed up silently in the lobby subtly grabbing our attention and focus. I noticed their costumes and immediately thought of the recent Olympics and how the athletes had similar outfits. They opened the theater doors, headed inside and it was clear we were meant to follow. What started out as a quiet introduction would soon turn into a theater filled with not only gravity defying stunts but also the loudest boasts of laughter I have heard from an audience in a long time, maybe ever.
I am a dancer and a sister so this performance could not have been more up my alley. But aside from the relatable content, I was absolutely blown away by how thoughtful and detailed each moment, scene, movement, and sound were presented. From start to finish, this performance was engaging and I found myself eagerly anticipating what would happen next. It was immediately clear to me how talented and skilled they are as artists and curators of performance. An example of this that stood out to me was early on in the piece. Through the use of sound, lighting, and physical cues, they were able to warp and manipulate time in order to bring us into and experience the intimate moment of a hug between them. They were able to elaborate on a feeling that is typically experienced in a relatively short interaction. Doing this early on in the piece really effectively allowed the audience to access their relationship and created the foundation for how we would continue to experience them in the rest of the performance.
I have a younger sister and there is something about having a sibling that is unique to any other relationship I have. I will spare you the thesis I could write about what it is like to have a sibling, and instead recommend you watch Split Second by Molly and Aviva. Some of the absolute funniest moments to me were the ones where they would so accurately and hilariously portray what it is like to have a sibling and they would do so in ways that truly only two siblings could. It isn’t just that they drank all of your water, it’s that their water bottle was right there and now they won’t share theirs with you. It’s not just that you share snacks, it’s that your mouth was full and you didn’t have a trash can so your sister lets you spit the food into her hand and puts it in her pocket. It’s the simultaneous and conflicting ways that only a sibling can furiously push your buttons and yet you would still do the most heinous and selfless things for them. And just as I never laugh harder than I do when I am with my sister, I have never laughed harder during a performance.
Melissa Mancini moved to the Bay Area in 2012 for college at USF where she majored in Performing Arts & Social Justice (Dance Concentration) and minored in Fine Arts. She has been a member of several Bay Area dance communities ever since, including being a regular patron of ODC Theater.
Aviva and Molly Rose-Williams Make Twinship A Circus was originally published in ODC.dance.stories on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.