Stop Kiss
Stop Kiss
By Diana Son
Produced and Directed by Molly Elizabeth Wuerz
Starring Fara Faidzan and Fabiola Rivera
Presented at Breakthrough Theatre
Winter Park FL</strong>
This 1998 play still had relevance; violence toward alterative human relations is still strong, even as it gets more positive publicity. Sara (Rivera) moves to New York; costs are high and neighborhoods iffy, but luckily she meets traffic reporter Callie. They quickly become friends; the friendship escalates to a budding relationship even as Callie stays close to jealous George (Josh Melendez), her former Friend With Benefits. Callie lives in Greenwich Village, and one night the pair go out to a lesbian bar to mingle and drink. At closing time they are dumped out on Bleecker Street where they are attacked. Callie gets off with bruises but Sara has her head bashed in and is now in a coma. Her family and ex-boyfriend Peter (BeeJay Aubertine Clinton) rally around her, but no one is happy about Callie’s existence.
In this well directed but awkwardly executed show we see a solid performance between the principles. The awkwardness as the two girls come close feels real. George is properly confused by it, and the Detective (Iris Johnson) remains strict and skeptical and blames Callie and Sara for the attack. Unfortunately, the show is unnecessarily extended due to constant set changes. While Mr. Clinton is a solid ex-boyfriend most of his acting skill goes into dragging a futon on and off stage: I counted eight entrance and eight exits for this trouper piece of furniture. Better to throw a blanket over it and ignore it than move it around. I believe this is Director Wuerz’s directorial debut; she’s got potential when it comes to handling actors but needs to cut back on the redecorating.
For more information on Breakthrough events, please visit http://www.breakthroughtheatre.com or look them up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Breakthrough-Theatre-of-Winter-Park/
