BWW Reviews: TRIBES Evokes Every Emotion

At the last minute I decided to see Birmingham Festival Theatre's production of Nina Raine's TRIBES. After all, two plays in a week aren't enough.

Before I say anything about the play itself, I have to say two personal things. First, when I began this job, I really wanted to give my readers my impressions of a play, not a synopsis and then a white washed report. I wanted to give you my real, honest, emotional feelings about what I was seeing. I hope I have done that, I plan to continue.

My job is to let you know what is happening in the theatre world in Birmingham and let you know what I think. We might not always agree, I hope we don't! I want you to go see as much theatre as possible for yourself and make up your own mind. I only hope I give you something to think about.

Secondly, I want to stress how fortunate we are to live in the area that we do. Theatre is alive and well in the Birmingham area! This week I have seen a rock musical about a transgender performer from Germany, a hilarious, slapstick comedy set in our own back yard, and now a British play that I am not actually sure I have the words to tell you about.

Although I felt very differently about each of these productions, I am positive about my feelings of gratitude to have the opportunity to see such interesting and varied theatre in a matter of a few days within my community.

Now, on to TRIBES. I cannot remember leaving a theatre with such emotion still filling me up. Every emotion I can think of occurred to me during the two hours I was in BFT. I laughed at some very funny lines, I was swept away by the romance of one of the most heartwarming scenes I have ever seen, I raged at a betrayal, and was later reminded of some discussions in my very own family.

Jared Funderburg is a performer I have seen several times in the past year or so. I have watched him grow and become one of the area's best actors. In TRIBES he plays Billy, a deaf young man living with his hearing family. If I had not seen Funderburg before, I would have believed he was actually hearing impaired. His demeanor and his voice were perfection.

Flannery Hooks, as Sylvia, is a revelation. I have seen her lately in other productions as well, but not in a role this demanding. She is lovable and honest, angry and thoughtful. The scene when Sylvia and Billy first meet leaves you wanting that first exciting rush of young love again. And when the two fight later, it leaves you devastated.

Laura Elton Towns is funny as Billy's sister, Ruth. She is probably the most consistently funny character. When she has her little breakdown, slowly groaning as she lowers her head to her mother's shoulder, I couldn't stop laughing. Her comedic timing and small, yet hilarious actions prove once again that you don't have to go over the top to be funny. And when she goes big and dramatic, you loved it all the more!

Penny Thomas and Bates Redwine, as the "loving" parents, are the perfect mix of self centeredness and yet meddlesome. They turn in solid performances. Pelham Anderson as Daniel, the third child, is annoying and endearing all at the same time. When you realize how much he truly loves his brother, you forgive him the things he has done to make you not like him earlier in the play.

The entire play is spoken in British dialect, but it is believable, consistent and not overdone. It is so good that you just accept it with no hesitations. That is tough for us Southerners!

A play that is heavy on character development and dialogue can often get slow. Director Daniel Martin uses music, beautiful blocking (movement around the set) and an exceptional cast to keep things moving.

I left quickly as soon as the play ended and drove home still on the brink of tears. But not sad tears. And not happy tears. See- I knew words were going to be tough on this one!

Communicating is the reason for art, in my opinion. If you don't communicate anything, I personally don't see the point. TRIBES communicates about how we all communicate. It is thought provoking and I feel sure I will be thinking about this one for a long time. When the stage goes black and leaves you with the word LOVE on the wall, you realize how much we forgive and endure to feel the love and acceptance of our family.

I promised my son, a REAL journalist, that I would never use an exclamation point when I write a review. But I have to say I have broken that promise here, and with good reason. TRIBES is a MUST SEE! It will make you think, make you feel and show you what exceptional talent we have in Birmingham.

You have one more weekend to go see TRIBES. If I had one problem with the show today it was that it wasn't a sold out crowd. Call 205-933-2838 or go to BFTonline.org and get your tickets. NOW!

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