LC Meridian

Issue date: 12/1/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment

When two people kiss in public it isn't anything out of the ordinary, but what if the two people are women? In Stop Kiss the two main characters, Sara and Callie are forced to stop their kiss and then become victims of a hate crime.

Sitting on the stage is a gray and white pin stripe couch, and on it hangs under garments, with a New York Times newspaper tucked beneath. Out comes Callie, a New York City reporter. This is her apartment and she gleefully sings, "You've got the best of my love" in a red bra and blue jeans. Callie hears a knock at the door and in comes Sara, a third grade Bronx teacher and Callie's soon-to-be lesbian lover.

Callie seems to need a therapist, because she acts as dreary as the black walls in her apartment. While a lot of people would be happy to be a traffic reporter on a radio station, Callie is not content with her job. Callie also has meaningless sex with her old college buddy, George, played by Henry Ovalles, perhaps to give off the false impression that she is straight.

Sara is a Quaker who comes from St. Louis, Missouri. She gradually becomes a friend and a lover to Callie, but acts more like her therapist. Sara constantly pats Callie on the shoulder, asks her about her family history and what she wants out of life.

Diana Son scripted Stop Kiss and Dante Albertie, the director of Lehman Stages, directed its reproduction at Lehman. Son's play consists of 23 fast paced scenes that come in pairs. Some transitions involve the development of Sara and Callie's lesbian relationship, which starts with them lounging on Callie's couch. The consequent scenes involve Callie being interrogated by Detective Cole, played by Jose Roldan Jr.

Callie and Sara kiss in a park around 4:15 a.m. one Saturday morning and a male witness attacks them, calling them "pussy-eating dikes." He breaks Callie's ribs and knocks Sara right into a coma.

Chaunice Chapman, who plays Callie, was convincing at acting like a reluctant lesbian who truly falls for Sara. "I loved it." said Chapman. "It was a very enriching experience. I learned a lot. It's a true romance for homosexual or heterosexual couples."

The lesbian kiss did make Cynthia Jimenez, "Sara", a little nervous, but she finished Stop Kiss looking like a pro. "It was my biggest role and a very challenging one for me. I was nervous about the kiss. It was challenging to take off some of my clothes and really get in to the lines and to really mean the apologies," said Jimenez.

Jimenez was extremely believable as a coma patient; she did not move a wink in the hospital bed. Nor did she seem uncomfortable during the kissing scenes.

"The play was well done, but my conscience tells me that gayness is wrong. Not abnormal enough to hit a gay person or call them names," said John Rodriguez, a Lehman sophomore.

The scenes in Stop Kiss were fast paced and challenged the audience to consider homosexual issues and hate crimes, yet the play brought a message of tolerance.

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