Love Person is a wonderful new play at Victory Gardens Theater, and you just have a few more chances to see its Chicago premiere.
This is a lesbian love story with a few twists: one partner is hearing, the other Deaf. The play is told in American Sign Language, English and Sanskrit, plus much of its dialogue is projected on to the well-designed scenery. This multi-layered play, by Aditi Brennan Kapil, offers an enjoyable look into the issues of language, communication, and loneliness even within the bonds of a relationship.
In the theater's Victory Magazine, Kapil said: "With Love Person,
I wanted to explore language as the initial point of attraction, to pit
people completely unsuited to be lovers against each other, and see
what happened. The connection between a Deaf lesbian woman and a straight Sanskrit scholar is not an easy or natural fit, and that is beautiful to me. The
connection between a Sanskrit scholar and a trash-talking, twice-divorced waitress is unlikely, making that journey beautiful to me. And
creating such unlikely partners in love allows me to explore my actual question--what exactly is it that
attracts us to other people?"
The play is directed beautifully by Sandy Shinner and the four cast members fit their roles well, especially Deaf actor Liz Tannebaum as Free, the central character torn between her real-life love for Maggie (Arlene Malinowski) and her "fake" and deceptive email affair with Ram (Rajesh Bose), who believes he is communicating with Free's sister Vic (Cheryl Graeff).
While the first act drags just a bit, the growth of the characters carries the play to a strong and emotional finish in the second act. This is definitely a play worth seeing, and it was also terrific to see it with several Deaf audience members, including some Deaf/hearing lesbian couples. Don't miss your chance to see this Chicago premiere at Victory Gardens. Call (773) 871-3000 or see http://www.victorygardens.org.
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