I never take for granted how lucky we are to have so many high quality plays, concerts and events in Boston.
For instance at the SpeakEasy Stage Company in the South End, it’s the New England premiere of the London and Off-Broadway hit TRIBES.
If you like well acted, well directed and well written plays, go to see Tribes.
This many layered drama is the story of a fiercy opinionated, intellectual and dysfunctional (what else is new) family. One of their 3 children, Billy, is deaf. They desperately wants him to fit into their world, the hearing world so they teach him how to lip read.
Billy, is played by James “Joey” Caverly, a graduate of Gallaudet University and a veteran actor with the fabulous National Theatre of the Deaf. Joey is deaf.
The family doesn’t stop long enough to realize that he doesn’t get everything and feels isolated. He views his role in the family as just staying out of everyone’s way and being invisible.
When Billy meets a young woman who introduces him into the deaf community he learns how to sign and for the first time in his life has a voice.
Billy now wants his family to enter his world by learning to sign. I won’t tell you more because I want you to see Tribes.
The themes are captivating and universal. How often do we as parents turn a deaf ear to our children’s needs? How often do we unwittingly try to make our children into our clones? This many layered play and done superbly.
TRIBES was written by British playwright and director Nina Raine, grand niece of Russian novelist Boris Pasternak. The actors Also in the cast are Boston-area actors Adrianne Krstansky, Kathryn Myles, Nael Nacer, Patrick Shea, and Erica Spyres. This cast, set, and director can seamlessly be moved again to Broadway and London’s West End. All deserve a hand for slipping into their characters and leaving their own selves at home. Tribes is
a winner.