“Tribes” at NMU Black Box Theatre

Billy, played by John Scheibe, surprises Sylvia, played by Amanda Woods, with a kiss in the theatrical production of “Tribes” at NMU’s Panowski Black Box Theatre. (photo by Ron Caspi)

What do you get when you take a comically dysfunctional Jewish-British family comprised of a politically incorrect and opinionated father, a mother, and three grown children, the last of whom is deaf and speaks and reads lips, but has no knowledge of sign, and throw them on a stage?  And add a love interest for the deaf son, a young lady who is of a deaf family and going deaf herself? An enthralling evening of theater when presented at NMU’€™s Panowski Black Box Theatre.

“Tribes” is a fascinating comedic drama by Nina Raine and Director Shelley Russell has made the most of this interesting new work and outstanding cast.  I enjoyed every aspect of this production and hope that you will too.

At the outset of the play you are in the center of this very noisy and
contentious household.  The family speaks *at* each other quite a bit.
They bicker and argue and bloviate.  Billy, the deaf son, can only
participate in some of the conversations and discussions. As he needs to see to read lips, much of the banter is lost on him.  He asks repeatedly what is going on, but is given the equivalent of a pat on the head and a perfunctory sketch of what has transpired.  He is left out of the real
goings-on.

Billy is played remarkably well by John Scheibe, who manages
not only a good British accent, but colors with the speech patterns of a
deaf person who has been taught to speak, but can barely hear his own
voice.  Mr. Scheibe does an exceptional job of relaying the complex
emotions his character feels throughout the show.  After Sylvia has taught him sign and introduced him to the deaf society, Billy decides to stop talking to his family until they make the effort to learn sign and talk to him rather than around him.

Tribes shows us how we take simple daily communications for granted. Cast members from left to right: James Porras as Daniel (in fridge), John Scheibe as Billy, Tom Lee as Christopher, Lily Howder as Ruth, and Jessica Bays as Beth. (photo by Ron Caspi)

Powerful stuff. It is a challenging role to say the least, and John handles it well.  The young lady who comes into his life, Sylvia, is played admirably by Amanda Woods.  Sylvia is a young woman, born into a deaf family, who introduces Billy into the deaf
community and teaches him to sign.  Again, a complex journey is portrayed
by Ms. Woods as her character has to deal with her mounting hearing loss,
living in the world of the hearing and the deaf, and the stresses that she
must deal with in her relationship with Billy and his family.

Tom Lee plays Christopher, the ever critical and politically incorrect father with
the proper amount of bluster and self-centered verve.  Christopher has
insisted that Billy be raised as if he was a hearing person, that there be
no accommodations or compromises due to his handicap.  His wife, Beth, is
subtly played by Jessica Bays, no stranger to local stages.  She delivers a
solid performance in this role, going toe-to-toe with her husband at times
and showing some degree of motherly compassion at others.

Lily Howder is Ruth, the daughter with aspirations to be a singer.  She, like the other
characters, spins in her own world, not letting reality interfere much with
her interactions with the world.

And then there is Daniel, played by James Porras.  Daniel is strangely dependent on Billy, on having Billy around the house.  Daniel hears voices in his head and stammered when young.  James delivers one of the best performances of his career at NMU.  There were
times I thought I could hear the voices in his head.  He and John had great
chemistry onstage.  James’ scenes with Amanda Woods as Sylvia were also
well performed€… there was an interesting dynamic between the characters.
Sylvia was both friend and threat, and it showed well onstage.

Beth, played by Jessica Bays, mothers her older son Daniel played by James Porras in a scene from the family living room in “Tribes”. (photo by Ron Caspi)

It served the material well to set it in the intimate surroundings of the
Panowski Black Box Theatre.  While I am sure this play has been performed
in bigger venues and on conventional proscenium style stages, the immediacy
of what is happening onstage is enhanced greatly by having a space like
this to perform in.

I have enjoyed watching over the past few years the
fuller utilization of the Black Box for what would have formerly been “€œmain
stage”€ productions.  “Avenue Q”€, “€œA Paper Tiger in the Rain”,
the upcoming “€œTwo White Chicks Sitting around Talking”€ and this production are all, in
my opinion, better experiences for actors and audience alike by being set
in this space.  Formerly used only for small student productions and lab
shows, the Black Box is proving to be a far greater asset than most had
imagined.

Sylvia, Billy, and Daniel in a scene together from “Tribes”. Cast from left to right: Amanda Woods, John Scheibe, and James Porras. (photo by Ron Caspi)

Shelley Russell Phd. from the NMU Theatre program and director of “Tribes”. (photo by Ron Caspi)

The production team has done a great job with this show.  Director Shelley
Russell has coaxed great performances from everyone in her cast.  There are
scenes that could, in the hands of a lesser director, almost end up like
the Battling Bickersons rather than the real and nuanced portrayal of a
seriously dysfunctional family unit.  The set is remarkable as well.
Victor Holliday has created a very real feeling and functional home in this
small space, and the design of the set draw the audience even deeper into
what is happening onstage.

One word of caution about the production.  While it is a family-based
drama, it is definitely NOT a family-friendly show.  The language is suited
for adults as are some of the topics discussed.  The raw edge to the
language enhances rather than detracts from the show, but audience members
should know about the language before they venture into the theatre.

Billy enters into a heated discussion with his parents as he announces he is no longer a part of the family. “Tribes” cast from left to right: John Scheibe, Jessica Bays, and Tom Lee. (photo by Ron Caspi)

This reviewer wholeheartedly endorses this production.  I was entertained
from beginning to end.  There was not a weak performance in this cast, the
direction was tight and focused, the technical aspects well above the
norm… a great evening’€™s entertainment.

€”Tribes” runs February 10-14, 17-21 Show times: 7:30 pm and 1:00 pm on
Saturdays.  Tickets are available at all NMU EZ-Ticket outlets.

by Martyn Martello

I do a little of this, a little of that. I've been kicking around the local theater scene for the past 15 years or so. I do technical work, scenic design, direct, and occasionally take to the stage. I co-own a local business and have been in Marquette over 30 years, And, sometimes, I take my quill pen out and scratch out a word or two.

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