“Stop Kiss," the provocative play by Diana Son, is coming to campus courtesy of the USC Department of Theatre and Dance. The work is a tour de force of controversial themes — a performance with powerful, multi-faceted statements.
Directed by Liz Houck, fourth-year theatre and psychology student, “Stop Kiss” tells the story of Callie and Sara, two African American women whose friendship develops into a romantic love. When the two share their first kiss, they are assaulted and tragedy ensues.
“Stop Kiss” does not shy away from difficult topics that are controversial in today’s social and political climate. The work deals with homosexuality, race and the place of the patriarchy — all themes that Houck considered when she chose this play.
“It’s to the point that two people can’t even kiss in the park without getting assaulted,” Houck said. “Especially regarding the violence against not only women of color, but even more so queer women of color, and our two leads are black, female actresses, and the time was right — especially in light of this political sphere.”
The play’s focus is on relationships, and not just the one between Callie and Sara. Platonic love is involved as well, through the presence of the women’s ex-boyfriends and a prodding Detective Cole determined to get to the bottom of the attack.
“I think that, for a lot of people, this play kind of humanizes different types of relationships, especially for people in communities of color,” Jasmine James, fourth-year theatre student who plays Callie, said.
The actors also embrace the play’s complex themes and welcome the audience to bring their opinions with them when they come to see the work.
The “Stop Kiss” cast seems to believe that some audience members may just change their opinions after seeing the show.
“I want them to take that love has many different forms and this is one of them,” Imani Hanley, fourth-year biology student who plays Sara, said. “And then, anybody who comes to see the play that has those viewpoints that love is just a man and a woman to take out of it, that love is just love.”
The director and cast do not want “Stop Kiss” to become a specialized experience for only members of homosexual communities or communities of color, but rather a story that connects with all types of people.
“I want people to realize 'Stop Kiss' is not a romance,” Ashley Graham, a second-year theatre student playing Detective Cole, said. “It’s just a story, and it’s beautiful and it’s something that everyone can relate to in terms of being human, being young, being scattered, being in love; that’s all a part of everyone’s life.”
“Stop Kiss” will be performed at the Lab Theatre at 1400 Wheat St., Oct. 15 to 18. The nightly performances begin at 8 p.m., with the theatre opening at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.
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