The Bowdoin Orient

March 9, 2001
Volume CXXXII, Number 19

Stop Kiss: exploring the idea of
social taboos

by JULIE THOMPSON - STAFF WRITER

   Admit it: At one point or another in our lives, we have all been attracted to things we cannot have. Be they material possessions, or more to the point, other people, the lure of the forbidden is an undeniable part of everyday life. However, when this attraction becomes too strong and the barrier between the out-of-reach and the attainable is crossed, dire consequences can ensue.
   The unwarranted result of such taboo breaking is addressed on a highly personal level in the play Stop Kiss, a production of the Department of Theater and Dance directed by Joan Sand, being performed this Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:00 p.m. in the Wish Theater. A superb cast stars in this deeply thought-provoking and edgy play, which focuses on the relationship between two young women living in New York City and an event that changes their lives profoundly.
   We are first introduced to Callie (Gemma Saunders '01), a New York-bred radio traffic reporter who is completely at home in the city. She is slightly off-put at the prospect of having to introduce Sarah, a friend of a friend from St. Louis, to the city and all of its dangers and excitements, but once the two meet it becomes obvious that friendship will soon follow. Sarah (Andrea Weeks '03), an elementary school teacher leaving her doting family to teach in the Bronx, is determined to make a place for herself in New York and branch out from St. Louis's familiar settings.
   Although the two have had completely different experiences and share little in the way of background, Callie and Sarah soon develop a close friendship. They share stories of the men in their lives; of Callie's friend George, whose role occasionally overlaps with that of a lover, and Sarah's ex-boyfriend Peter, with whom she parted ways after a seven-year relationship. Their personalities, too, are very distinct. Sarah, who is devoting her life to helping children learn, has a clear idea of where she wants to be in her life and career, as well as who she is. Callie, on the other hand, is constantly "swerving," in the words of Sarah: she has a hard time making up her mind about many things, including her job, George, and how she feels about Sarah.
   The story unfolds from the aftermath of the event that transpires and through flashbacks to scenes from the past. After our introduction to the characters, we are thrown into a scene from the present, in which a detective is questioning Callie. She describes a terrifying attack on herself and Sarah that sent the latter to the hospital in a state of unconsciousness. What the audience does not find out for certain, however, until later on in the play is the set of circumstances surrounding this traumatic occurrence.
   In essence, the situation boils down to this: Callie and Sarah were attacked because they were seen kissing. Diana Son, award-winning writer of Stop Kiss, explains: "…to others, they're lesbians. But in their minds exists this whole web of emotions that they're alternately giving in to and fighting against…Because the incident in the play happens to women other people think of as 'straight,' I think it's more accessible than if it happened to women living their lives as lesbians."
   Whether or not this is true, the play is accessible for many other reasons as well. The characters might as well be recent Bowdoin graduates trying to make it in New York; the cast does an excellent job of letting us into their minds and feelings. Sanders brings a vivacity and liveliness to the role of conflicted Callie, and Weeks artfully portrays Sarah and the subtle changes her psyche goes through as the play progresses.
   Says Weeks of her involvement in this complex production, "I really enjoyed working on the show. The cast is great and I have had a wonderful time working with Joan…things have come together so quickly, too." The supporting cast, including Max Leighton '01 as the caring George, Jack Curtin '01 as Sarah's ex Peter, and Josh Wolfe '03 as the tough detective, are an outstanding complement to the main characters and are crucial in revealing the true sentiments of Callie and Sarah. This is truly a production not to be missed. Tickets are free at the Smith Union info desk.

Andrea Weeks '03 and Gemma Saunders '01 rehearse for this weekend's performance. (Jane Hummer/Bowdoin Orient)