(l to r) James Caverly (Billy), Anita Carey (Beth), Dan Clegg (Daniel), and Elizabeth Morton (Ruth) take center stage in the Bay Area premiere of Nina Raine’s critically acclaimed family drama Tribes at Berkeley Rep.
TRIBES: Written by Nina Raine. Directed by Jonathan Moscone. Berkeley Repertory Theatre Thrust Stage, 2015 Addison Street @ Shattuck, Berkeley, CA 94704.510-647-2918 or www.berkeleyrep.org. EXTENDED through May 18, 2014.
TRIBES explores the world of silence at BerkeleyRep. [rating:5] (5/5 Stars)
Every so often audiences are treated a production that can be described as the “whole package.” BerkeleyRep has done it again with Nina Raine’s Tribes. The play is intelligent, expertly crafted with one minor exception, populated with impressive actors, directed with panache, staged with lights, sound/music befitting the subject matter and performed on a memorable set (Todd Rosenthal). The standing ovation was well deserved.
Be advised to pay attention since the major character is a man born deaf, living with his normal hearing family Tribe. Much of the dialog is in sign language with projections often translating what is said. Billy (James Caverly) is the youngest member of the family and was born deaf. Patriarch Christopher (Paul Whitworth ) and mother Beth (Anita Carey ) have made the decision to bring up Billy without the benefit of sign language. Intelligent Billy has become an expert lip reader and has learned to talk, although with the truncated words typical of the hearing impaired.
In the opening scene with Christopher, Beth and the older children, Daniel (Dan Clegg) and Ruth (Elizabeth Morton) involved in loud, contentious bantering Billy is quietly sitting at the dinner table unaware of the turmoil. It is a clever way author Raine demonstrates Billy’s lack of involvement within the family. It foreshadows future conflict.
The family is living in an academic world with retired professor Christopher trying to learn Chinese and Beth unsuccessfully writing a novel. Ruth is trying to be an opera singer and earns a few dollars singing in cafés and churches. Daniel is a perpetual student working on a thesis and has problems maintaining female companionship. He also hears debilitating voices in his head that he cannot separate from reality suggesting schizophrenia.
(l to r) James Caverly (Billy) and Nell Geisslinger (Sylvia) fall in love
Within the confines of the family Tribe there is a balance that appears at times to be tenuous. When Billy meets Sylvia he falls in love. She is born of deaf parents who carry a “deafness’ gene causing their children to be born deaf or become deaf at a young age. Sylvia is an expert at signing since, other than in writing, that was her means of communication with her parents. Her hearing loss is progressive. Sylvia introduces Billy to the Deaf community and for her sake he learns sign language.
Within the Deaf community there are severe schisms with strong proponents of signing versus lip reading with actual hierarchies established. When Gallaudet University of the Deaf hired a “hearing” President the student body rose up in defiance and he was replaced. The more militant group within the Deaf tribe insists that they are not “different” or “abnormal” and oppose hearing aids and especially cochlear implants.
Drama and conflict arise within the play when Billy questions his parents’ decision to bring him up “normally” without the benefit of sign language. That leads to a cataclysmic second act that will have you on the edge of your seat. When Sylvia is introduced to the family the interrelationships are even more complicated since she knows the “hearing world” that she is losing. When she goes to play the piano at the end of act one you will feel deep anguish especially since her external hearing is paradoxically replaced by noises within her head.
The cast is marvelous. Paul Withworth is a master at subjugating his personae into the characters he is playing. In Shining City at SF Playhouse he sat perfectly still for his entire time on stage and yet created a well rounded character. Underneath his vociferous demeanor in this play he still earns our belief that his intentions were noble. Anita Carey stands toe to
- (l to r) Paul Whitworth (Christopher) and Anita Carey (Beth)
toe with Withworth adding luster to her talents. Nell Geisslinger makes you feel Sylvia’s fear of progressive deafness. Dan Clegg and Elizabeth Morton have been given histrionic roles and earn their share of accolades.
The greatest number of accolades go to James Caverly who is deaf, a graduate of Gallaudet University, is a member of the National Theatre of the Deaf and has played the role of Billy in Boston and Washington. His acting skills are a wonder.
Chalk this play up as a “must see.” Running time 2 hours including a 15 minute intermission.
CAST: Anita Carey (Beth), James Caverly (Billy), Dan Clegg (Daniel), Nell Geisslinger (Sylvia), Elizabeth Morton (Ruth), and Paul Whitworth (Christopher)
Creative team: Todd Rosenthal (scenic designer), Meg Neville (costume designer), Christopher Akerlind (lighting designer), Jake Rodriguez (sound designer), and Joan Osato (video designer). (All photos by mellopix.com)
Kedar K. Adour, MD
