“I have learned that life is much more interesting when you do the things you want to do rather than focusing on the things you should do.”
WHO: Olivia Levine
WHAT: “Did you masturbate in public as a child and then feel so guilty you stopped touching yourself for two years while your “sins” played on a loop in your head? Ever watch your dad sleep at night to make sure he was still breathing? Were you afraid to say ‘delectable’ because JonBenét Ramsey said it right before she was murdered in the JonBenét Ramsey Lifetime Original Movie? If so, it’s possible you were a horny little lesbian in the making with totally undiagnosed OCD! Like me! Come to Unstuck to see how I turned out ;)”
WHERE: Just the Tonic at The Mash House – Just the Bottle Room (Venue 228)
WHEN: 19:30 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is my first time at Fringe. I have many friends and peers that have gone to the festival and they came back saying it was the best experience of their lives. That said, I have seen Baby Reindeer, so I know to temper my expectations! No, but in all seriousness, I am really looking forward to August. I know that I can’t really have a sense of things until I arrive, and I am just trying to keep an open mind and heart.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
I have learned that life is much more interesting when you do the things you want to do rather than focusing on the things you should do. I suppose there’s a balance involved, of course, but I really tend towards the “should” category, and I am trying now to lean into doing what makes me happy more often. I don’t always know how to access that space yet, but I think a key part of understanding what I want to be doing in a given moment or on a given day is slowing down my body and mind and just checking in with myself. My mind moves at a very fast pace, so sometimes it’s as simple as following the principle “first things first”, and then I can suss things out from there. I am not perfect at it, but doing what I WANT is much more of a priority now than ever before.
Tell us about your show.
My show is a comedic solo show entitled UNSTUCK, and it’s about the intersection of my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and my sexuality. The show is really about growing up, figuring out how to navigate mental health challenges while also navigating the development of my sexuality, figuring I was queer, and exploring relationships. The show is extremely honest, authentic, and pretty wild! I talk a lot about my sex related obsessions, my fear of harming other people, my fear of impregnating my own mother (!!!) and much more!
I wrote the show about four years ago now, and I have been performing it in NYC and the surrounding areas ever since. It has changed a lot since its inception, and I think I have a really polished, funny show on my hands. I am also producing the show, as I have for the past few years. Molly Rose Heller directed the show, and she will travel with me to Edinburgh for the first week of performances. We premiered off Broadway at The Tank NYC in 2019, and where it lands next is up to fate! I would love to perform this show anywhere and everywhere that will have me 🙂
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I am a big fan of comedian and friend Catherine McCafferty, who is bringing her show (NOT) THAT BAD to the festival. The show is about grief and queerness — two things I love hearing about! — and Catherine is a great storyteller. I also always love Cat Cohen, who is bringing her new hour back to Fringe entitled COME FOR ME! Cat Cohen is a musical comedian and her songs are really funny, but also her off the cuff jokes (or at least they seem that way) are always just so clever. I think Cat Cohen has a unique voice that has already influenced many of her peers. Kelly Bachman is hilarious, and she has a solo show called PATRON SAINT that I am really looking forward to. The show explores the relationship between comedy and trauma. Kelly, who is a rape survivor, spotted Harvey Weinstein at a comedy show and called him out for it. She then went on to speak on CNN and other programs after the encounter went viral. VERY interesting stuff.
Anna Akana’s IT GETS DARKER is also on my list, she is a big favorite of my NYC friends — I even have a friend coming all the way from NYC to see her perform — but I’ve yet to see her live. I am psyched to finally see her in the flesh! Also, Rose Matafeo has a show called ON AND ON AND ON. I have adored her ever since STARSTRUCK premiered. That show is one of my favorites by far, so I am thrilled I get to see her perform on stage. I think she is wildly talented and I want everyone in the world to know how amazing she is!
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