Review: Show ‘stopping’ first play

 The University’s theater recently closed its curtains on the first production of the year. “Stop Kiss,” was performed during Dakota Days for three evenings Oct. 1-3 followed by a Sunday matinee on Oct. 4.

     On paper “Stop Kiss” is a romance, but like many good love stories, it goes beyond just romance. The play centers around two women named Callie and Sarah, as they work to navigate their identities, careers and relationships.

     “Stop Kiss” is a story about love, and it’s a story about self discovery,” Logan Culhane said. 

     As the actress portraying Callie, she had a broad perspective of the show. 

     “I get to experience all of these different relationships,” Culhane said.

     The play’s relationships are intertwined with heavy, yet important topics including violence, autonomy and homophobia. Specifically, the play portrays violence through the experiences Callie and Sarah face as queer individuals. The play was not doom and gloom though; the weight of violence is countered by moments of joy and levity.

Culhane described the story as an “emotional whiplash.” It unfolds across two timelines: the first takes place in the present, after a hate crime has occurred; and the other takes place in the moments leading up to the incident. The play’s funnier moments do not diminish its meaning. Nor is it so tragic that it stops resembling real life; as the play shows there is always hope for the future.

     “Where there’s love there’s always hope,” assistant director Christina Foltz said. 

     Despite its hardships and tragedies, the story is not defined by them and instead maintains an optimism rooted in love.

     The emotional impact of the story was carried by the work of the actors and crew. Foltz described bringing the production to life as a collaborative process. That work was evident in the audience’s response.

     The vivid performances brought the audience into the story. Culhane’s mannerisms, from her voice to her movements, brought Callie to life. She wasn’t the only one, all of the characters felt human and relatable.

      From the acting to the set and blocking, every element felt cohesive, the play didn’t feel like it was simply lines being recited, but it felt like a story that was real and important.

     “We really impacted audiences in the way we wanted to,” Culhane said.

     The cast hoped not only to pull at the audience’s heartstrings but also to communicate the play’s message effectively. 

     Culhane said she had worried about how the audience would react, including whether someone might walk out because of the play’s content. Thankfully, that did not happen.

     “I just feel lucky to be able to have been a part of a production that took place here in a small town in the Midwest, and that it happened and that it exists now,” Culhane said. 

     She explained that sharing queer stories and art made the production feel especially important.

     The Theater Department’s next performance called “anthropology” shown in the Arena Theatre Oct. 22 until Oct. 25.