Review: Look At Me Don't Look At Me, RashDash (Ed Fringe 22)

I’m ashamed to say I’m fairly new to work of celebrated collective RashDash, and

having had the pleasure of watching Oh Mother in London a few weeks back, I jumped

at the chance to see them again.

Armed with just a piano, a synth, two microphones, wicked vocals and a sharpie beard,

RashDash guides us through the life of Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Siddal, an artist who was the

muse of celebrated painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Celebrated by many who know his

work, Dante Gabriel Rossetti often depicts Lizzie in his paintings and poems as a

dejected figure but Look At Me Don’t Look At Me riotously examines this often forgotten

woman.

The talent in this musical two-hander is clear, both Abbi Greenland and Becky Wilkie

whiz through the hour with great aplomb. Both performances measured, acutely aware

of the audience throughout. Never once letting the energy fade from the room, their

focus fiercely contagious.

Through a plethora of catchy songs, RashDash asks us to examine forgotten women in

history and by moving a male protagonist aside, lets us see clearly the always-forgotten

talent of Lizzie. The original songs here are fantastic, zipping with energy and wit, impressive and informative about the life of these two lovers.

Helen Goalen’s direction is superb, and while mega-money productions such as Six

take to stages across the world to celebrate the stories of untold women from history,

Look At Me Don’t Look At Me sits alongside the biggest and loudest productions.

Riotous and original, RashDash remind us that all you need to create a special show

is a couple of instruments, bags full of talent and an interesting story. Look At Me Don’t Look At Me is a show you don’t want to miss.

Creative Team

Abbi Greenland - Writer / performing as Elizabeth Siddal

Becky Wilkie - Songwriter / performing as Dante Rossetti

Helen Goalen - Direction

Katharine Williams - Lighting Design

Photo credit: Sebastian Hinds