Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Dates: 18th Feb - 9th March
Tickets: £12/£10 www.leicestersquaretheatre.com
This timeless story, sadly still as relevant today as when it was first written in the late 90s, even in enlightened cities such as New York, tells the heart-warming heart-breaking tale of two women falling in love, exploring their lesbianism for the first time and dealing with the devastating consequences of homophobia.Perfectly performed with comic and dramatic precision, in this intimate setting we witness and at the same time are inside the relationship of these genuine, appealing characters - Callie played by Olivia Hunter and Sara, Rae Brogan. We are there step by step as the initial chemistry becomes love, and it's a thoroughly enjoyable ride.
However, we learn early on that a trauma will occur as a result of the forming love. Interspersed with the romantic comedy are scenes of shock, horror and grimmness.
The cast is faultless, but particular admiration goes to Brogan who flips between happy and brain injured; lively and conveying everything through a still silence, and newcomer Jameal Westman who adds much needed comic relief.The homophobia pervades gently and visciously - gently as the two women react, reject then accept their feelings and overcome their predujices, viscious in the reaction of bigotry and institutionalised discrimination (you know, the old 'your sexuality must have provoked the attack' line), and of course in the family's response to Sara's care needs.
The clever narrative structure delivers the ending we want to see, despite knowing what comes next, and inspires an air of hope that perhaps they will end up together.
Stop Kiss is Libertine Production's (established in 2011) first fully fledged performance, and first direction for Noah James.
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