The Online Reflector

The production of “Stop Kiss” took place Nov. 29 and 30 and also Dec. 1, 6, 7 and 8 in the Studio Theatre at the University of Indianapolis. The play was written by Diana Son and directed by Brad Wright, director of theatre.

“Stop Kiss” is part of the University Lecture Series for this school year, which focuses on identity.

The play was chosen by the faculty of the theatre department at the end of the 2012 school year.

“Stop Kiss” is told nonlinearly, that is, the scenes jump time periods. One minute, the audience is looking at a hospital room. The next, they are transported back in time to a living room.

Junior communication major Will Schnabel plays Peter in “Stop Kiss.” He explained that the 23 scene changes were an integral part of the production.

“Scene changes are a big part of this play because they [characters] have to always be going to a different place,” he said.

The play focuses on Callie and Sarah, two women who meet in New York, befriend one another and eventually fall in love.  Freshman theatre major Morgan Jackson plays Callie. This is Jackson’s first major role at UIndy.

“When I first saw the script, my first thought was that it had so much depth to it. It tells a story that has very sad aspects to it, but it has such quick and witty jokes, and of course it’s a love story,” she said.

The play revolves around an attack on the two women in a park late at night. As the story unfolds scene-by-scene, and more scenes are shown, it is revealed that the crime is one of hatred toward the women, who are caught kissing one another.

Schnabel explains that although the play contains lesbian themes, it is not a play about lesbians, but rather, hate crimes toward homosexuals.

“It [“Stop Kiss”] very much is about hate crimes, which are very relevant right now. A lot of people seem to think hate crimes are decreasing throughout the U.S., but we’ve done a lot of research for this production, and they’re not,” Schnabel said.

The play leaves a resonating message with the audience, showing Sarah in a coma after the attack and Callie caring for her through it all.

Jackson said she hopes the show will resonate with students at UIndy.

“I hope when students see the show, they leave with a new respect for the people here at UIndy that may be struggling with their identity and sexuality,” she said.

Although the play may be seen by some as controversial, those who see it need to have an open mind about the gay/lesbian theme and take a look at the bigger picture.

“College students are consistently, perpetually throughout history, struggling to find who they are and deciding who they are going to be the rest of their life,” Schnabel said. “This is a part of our life, where we really shape who we are going to become. That’s what I think people get out of this show. It’s not something you’re going to go to and laugh a lot at. But hopefully, it’s something you come away with thinking a little bit more about yourself, a little more than what you saw.”