Review: Mad Cow's TRIBES is Beautiful Examination of Love, Family, Communication

Since I left the Mad Cow Theatre after seeing the Sunday matinee of their newest show, TRIBES by Nina Raine, I haven't been able to stop thinking about the implications stirred up by the highly dysfunctional family at the center of this rich, thickly plotted drama. I have become slightly weary of new plays trading on the "highly dysfunctional family" trope in recent years, as most are flawed attempts to capitalize on the success of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, but the insight with which Raine draws her characters, and the difficulties that they face, is uniquely specific, and all together powerful. The plot of this beautifully realized production analyzes the nature of family, of belonging, and the differences between communicating and connecting.

Brilliantly guided by Mad Cow Resident Director Aradhana Tiwari, TRIBES centers on a progressive, academic British family with three adult children that have recently moved back home, including son Billy (Britt Michael Gordon) who was born deaf. The family is a passionate, articulate group of creative people, which often leaves Billy on the outside of their spirited debates, despite being a remarkable lip-reader. Billy's parents, Chris and Ruth (Mark Edward Smith and Marty Stonerock), chose not to allow Billy's deafness to become a handicap; so neither Billy, nor his family, ever learned sign language, a decision which inadvertently alienated him from his loved ones and the larger deaf community.

It is not until Billy meets the beautiful Sylvia (Lexi Langs); who having been hearing all of her life, is slowly losing that sense; that he begins to realize the level of frustration that the isolated nature of his life has created.

What follows is a wonderful examination of the complexities and nuances of communication, love, empathy, and identity that is alternately humorous and heart-breaking. Raine subtly incorporates so many different ideas into the script that their reverberations can be felt from the opening moments straight through the play's final bow.

Gordon, who also played Billy in Florida Repertory Theatre's production last year, delivers a knockout performance. He sensitively creates a character straddling the line between two groups who don't understand each other. While his stifled voice is always intelligible, it is the range of emotion evident in his eyes that makes this performance special; from distant to excited to devastated, Gordon's face never betrays his character.

As Sylvia, Langs is the catalyst that unknowingly forces Billy to re-examine everything about the life he has known. After just one scene, it is clear to understand why Langs, and her character, would inspire such passion. Her charismatic vibrancy is infectious, which makes it even more painful when Sylvia eventually retreats into herself.

Peter Travis plays Billy's brother Daniel, who goes on an emotional journey just as fraught as his brother's. The two share a special relationship that seems to have grounded Daniel in difficult times; as Billy alienates himself from his family, Daniel suffers more than anyone. Travis skillfully guides Daniel from being consumed with egotistical annoyance to broken-down pathos.

Smith and Stonerock as the boys' parents, and Hannah Benitez as their sister Ruth, provide compelling characters that add to the chaotic nature of this exceedingly difficult family.

This talented group of actors left me thinking about what it means to belong to one family or another, to one group, or to one tribe. And, whether or not words have any real meaning without genuine emotions behind them. This is a play that I am confident upon repeated viewings or readings, will reveal even more hidden layers.

Mad Cow's space could not have been more well-suited for TRIBES. I have seen some very entertaining and engaging pieces in Mad Cow's Harriett Theatre, but the most compelling and moving works that I've seen the company produce have been in the intimate Zehngebot-Stonerock Theatre. For this show, they abandoned the theatre-in-the-round seating that I was familiar with in that space, and went with a more traditional black box set up. Scenic Designer Rebecca Pancoast created a remarkably realistic London flat and Scenic Artist Karen Stephenson did a great job bringing it to life. Tiwari's sound design, Eric Haugen's lighting design, and artful projections added an incredible amount to understanding the confusing, sensual world that Billy and Sylvia live in.

For a theatrical experience that is as educational as it is emotional, do not miss TRIBES. You can purchase tickets on Mad Cow's website, or by calling 407-297-8788. As with all Mad Cow productions, I recommend attending Thursdays and Sundays to participate in their post-show talkbacks, but with TRIBES, you should also consider attending one of the ASL Interpreted Performances on Friday, September 4th and Thursday, September 17th. Going back and forth between the main action and the interpretation adds a whole other level of understanding to Billy's plight.

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Did you sit down to dinner with this unusual family? Let me know what you thought of the show in the comments below, or by "Liking" and following BWW Orlando on Facebook and Twitter. You can also chat with me about the show on Twitter @BWWMatt.

Photo Credit
1) The cast of TRIBES (Britt Michael Gordon foreground): Mad Cow Theatre
2) Britt Michael Gordon and Lexi Langs: Mad Cow Theatre
3) Cast of TRIBES: Mad Cow Theatre

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