The University of Massachusetts Theater Guild (UMTG) is back again for its last performance of the semester. This time, the UMTG will be doing its own production of the contemporary play "Stop Kiss." The UMTG will take hold of the Renaissance Theater at 650 E. Pleasant St. on May 8 through May 10.
In the past year, the UMTG has done three major performances. It kicked off the fall 2007 semester with the passionate Spanish play "Blood Wedding," then performed an interpretation of the poem-based musical "The Wild Party." In the current semester, the UMTG did a production of "Godspell," which generously gave the UMTG and countless other playhouses in the past the creative freedom to make interesting musical approaches and alternative production styles.
Generally, the UMTG hosts its shows in auditoriums like Bowker or the Student Union Ballroom. The Center for Renaissance Studies is an unfamiliar setting for the UMTG, but hopefully it won't throw off the cohesiveness of this student organization that has been running since 1936.
The play in UMTG's current playbill, "Stop Kiss," written by Diana Son, is an honest and modern look at a lesbian love affair gone awry. The lead characters in the play are Callie, played by freshman Linda Tardif, and Sara, played by sophomore Jess Leader. Taking place in New York City, a more experienced city girl, Callie, lends a helping hand to Sara, a timid but starry-eyed girl from St. Louis who finds companionship in Callie. Soon, their budding friendship turns into something more, as sexual tension begins to develop. It is the perfect example of a friends-to-lovers story.
The two girls share a kiss in a park where a disapproving, homophobic person attacks them. Sara is severely injured and falls into a coma. Throughout the main plotline, despair and confusion plagues the lives of the other characters in Sara and Callie's lives.
Before leaving St. Louis to move to New York, Sara left behind her boyfriend Peter (played by Patrick Walsh), who is still madly in love with her. When Peter finds out that someone in the park ambushed her, he comes to her aid.
Callie is also put into a predicament with her "friend with benefits" George, played by freshman Andy Ferlo. George is a bartender in the city and has been physical with Callie in the past. He begins to show signs of agitation because of Callie and Sara's close relationship.
With a play that takes place in the present, Son critically asks daunting questions about society and the influence it has on the decisions people make about relationships. Despite the heaviness of the plotline, Son embeds sincerity and affection into her modern characters and also includes satirical elements. The subordinate conflicts that are intertwined in the main issue are seasoned with comic spirit, but serious dialogue is still kept intact.
"Stop Kiss" is not just a story of oppressed lesbians who happened to get assaulted. It is not only a reminder of the homophobia that still exists in the world. The play is a multi-faceted exploration of a homosexual relationship and how it affects the closest people in the women's lives. The characters are multi-dimensional and authentic. They are faced with real problems, which is why the play hits so close to home and is overtly sentimental.
The UMTG will be displaying their take on "Stop Kiss" later this week. Performances are Thursday through Saturday, May 8-10 at 8 p.m., with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on May 10. Tickets, which will be sold at the door, are $5 for students and $10 for general admission. The Renaissance Theater only has a capacity of 40 to 50 people, so reserve your tickets by sending an e-mail to UMTG.tickets@gmail.com.
Joe Stahl can be reached at jstahl@student.umass.edu.
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