The University of Lethbridge opens their main stage series with a to
uching and funny play Tribes, Oct. 14-18 in the David Spinks Theatre.
The production features experienced students including Michael Rolfe, AJ Barager and Carolyn Ruether and professors Gail Hanrahan and Doug MacArthur which explores the life of a deaf family.
Tribes is a 2010 Nina Raine authored story about Billy’s wildly eccentric British family functions as a closed clique who gossip, debate and argue with each other.
Deaf since birth, Billy is the only one who truly listens. It’s not until he meets Sylvia, a young woman who is becoming deaf herself, that he finally discovers what it means to be heard. The winner of the 2012 Drama Desk Award, Tribes is a humourous and poignant look at the battle between self-identity and family.
“ Billy is born into
a deaf family who refuses to learn sign language. So when he meets Sylvia and learns it, it opens a whole new world to him,” said director Richie Wilcox adding Doug MacArthur saw the play performed in New York and Toronto and wanted to bring it to Lethbridge.
“ I loved it as soon as I read it and fell in love with the journey of these characters,” he said.
They consulted with people from the Lethbridge deaf community to not only learn sign language, but ensure they got the details correct.
“ We had three ASL (American Sign Language), coordinators involves. So it has been really great to have them. They’ve come out and immersed the actors in that language,” Wilcox said.
The cast have enjoyed the process.
“ It’s hard for Billy because he has to look at people‘s faces all the time to read their lips and understand them,” added third year drama major AJ Barager of his character.
Both actors were immediately drawn to the concept of Tribes.
“There's a lot about family relationships,” Barager continued.
“ I like the concept and the ideas,” Ruether said.
The cast learned about sign language for their roles.
“ A lot of it comes from the script but we also had people from the deaf community come and teach us sign language. So they really helped us set up our characters,” Barager said.
“ I wasn’t aware of how much prejudice there as about deaf people,” Ruether said.
“When you can’t hear, a lot of communicating with people about how they think and feel is in body language,” Barager observed.
Ruether said working on stage with two of her professors was another unique part of this process.
“ Having two of my professors for my degree have helped put more details into my character,” she said.
“ I’m looking forward to it. It is a hilarious and shocking and very provocative show,” Wilcox said..
“ I think the most important thing is it stresses how important it is to listen to each other,” he added.
Tribes runs Oct. 14-18 in the David Spinks Theatre at 8 p.n. each night, there is also a 2 p.m.matinee.
Tickets are available online at uleth.ca/tickets, by phone (403-329-2616) or at the box office Monday-Friday 12:30-3:30 and 1 hour before ticketed performances. $18 regular; $13 senior/alumni; $12 student.
