Io//Odio is an unfiltered, immersive confrontation with the mechanics of hate. Raw, unsettling, and at times exhausting, the show pulls audiences into the mind of a man consumed by his fury, never letting up for a moment. It captures the disturbing realities of radicalization and ideological obsession with unnerving precision.
The performance unfolds as a monologue that doesn't waver in intensity. This deliberate choice mirrors the way hate festers unchecked. Luca Serra Busnengo's character's anger is a steady, unrelenting force, creating a suffocating atmosphere that refuses to provide relief. This is not an easy role but Busnengo delivers a strong performance. He navigates this challenge with impressive stamina, sustaining a demanding emotional pitch. His portrayal is striking in its commitment, embodying the contradictions of a man who sees himself as both a victim and a warrior.
Io//Odio exists more as a visceral experience than a structured theatrical piece. The performance maintains a single emotional note—rage—without modulation. While this may be intentional, the lack of variation leaves little space for tension to build or ideas to develop. The moments when Busnengo shared details of his life were precious. It offered a quick entry point and lessened the emotional grip, if even for a breath. A stronger arc, or even brief instances of contrast, could give the audience more to hold onto, making the message even more impactful.
Io//Odio is undeniably powerful in what it sets out to do. It refuses to sanitize or justify its subject matter, offering no easy resolutions and no comforting takeaways. Instead, it forces its audience to sit with the discomfort of what happens when hate spirals with no end in sight. As a piece of commentary, it is searing. As a theatrical experience, it challenges traditional structures in a bold way.
In the end, Io//Odio doesn't offer a way out—it simply lays bare the mechanisms of hate and leaves the audience to grapple with what they've witnessed. It is unrelenting, uncomfortable, and sadly relevant.
"Io//Odio"
Performed by Luca Serra Busnengo
From Valentina Diana
Conceived and directed by Maurizio Bàbuin
January 30- February 7, 2025
SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam St, NYC)
Yani Perez, M.F.A., is a poet, playwright, translator, and educator. Her plays have been presented in various theaters in the United States, such as La Mama and Yale University, as well as internationally in Bogotá, Colombia. She works at IATI Theater, one of the oldest Latinx theaters in NYC. She is currently working on translations of Latinx artists in hopes of introducing them to English-speaking audiences.
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