Rep Stage had a brainstorm by commissioning ten plays and producing a world premiere. Personally, I’m glad it did. Rep Stage asked local playwrights to create ten short explorations of love and the languages it manifests. Finally, six incredibly talented actors were cast to deliver the musings — Alejandro Ruiz, Felicia Curry, Regina Aquino, Garnet Williams, and Temidayo Amay.
This is an innovative and seamless work that reminds us that no matter how discombobulated the world is, it is still a rich place, and yes, love is all around us.
What this show explores are the many ways that love surrounds us. There is a rather cheesy song by The Troggs (from the summer of love in 1967), called “Love is All Around.” These very different interpretations of love brings that to life, but in a pretty classy way.
The complete list of the “LOVE/language” works and playwrights are: “After the Flood” by Annalisa Dias; “Yeah, That’s Where I Am From” by Tracy Hall; “An Offering” by Hope Villanueva; “A Love Beyond Ideas” by Dane Figueroa Edidi; “Parts of Me, Parts of You” by Britt A Willis; “love love you” by Bob Bartlett; “Billy’s Garden” by Susan McCully; “Resignation” by Farah Lawal Harris; “MY Love of US” by JR Nexus Russ; and “Fortunate” by Deb Sivigny.
In these monologues, sometimes love works out and sometimes it doesn’t; sometimes it turns a little stalkerish; and sometimes it is fiercely tender. In the hands of these playwrights, it is also revelatory.
One of the strongest pieces is “A Love Beyond Idea.” It is a hard look at when love isn’t enough because “love shouldn’t be shackles; it should be setting us free.” The power of that statement is delivered in the context of a Black trans woman who shows her love partly by going to regular dinners to her partner’s parent’s house, but in the end, he doesn’t have her back. So in a spirit of love, both for herself and for his limitations, she leaves.
Possibly the most jarring is “love love you.” It is a story of a broken relationship. An obsessive lover leaves a phone message, further complicated by an ex-partner who might have been in the closet to his family, and the jilted lover who is seriously hurting, yet dramatizing. It seems almost as if there is too much going on for an approximately 10-minute vignette.
The rest of the stories touch on the love between a parent and child; the love for a time when one felt safe; how love needs to be planted and nurtured; and how love shows up and puts in the time, willingly. Other explorations include love of country (hint: it’s not rabid patriotism); love of a friend as a soul mate; grief as love; loving yourself enough to respect yourself; and other permutations. They are rich and varied treasures to explore.
At times the language is pure poetry (“Part of Me, Parts of You”) and sometimes it is raw and aching. “‘After the Flood” is lyrical in its depiction of love. At the other end, “Yeah, That’s Where I’m From”’ has the rhythm of city streets and blighted futures.
The production was conceived by Joseph Ritsch, who also co-directed with Angelisa Gilyard. It is filmed on stage with just a rough wooden table and bench. Lighting provided much of the atmosphere. It is an unobtrusive, effective way to frame these 10 snapshots of love.
Original music was composed by Sarah O’Halloran. Dragon Digital Production Staff from Howard Community College included the director of photography and videographer/editor, Danielle Malloy Maloney, videographer Greg McNair, with titles and animation by Carl Merritt.
This is an innovative and seamless work that reminds us that no matter how discombobulated the world is, it is still a rich place, and yes, love is all around us.
Show Advisory: Some adult language, sexual references.
Running Time: Approximately one hour and 23 minutes without intermission.
“Love/language”is running through March 29, 2021, by Rep Stage atHoward Community College, Columbia, MD. It is a virtual theatre event available 24/7. For more information, click here.
