Stop/Kiss
The most important events that bring the Stop/Kiss story to life are the attack by a stranger on Sara and Callie, the love lives of Sara and Callie, and the investigation was done on the attack on the two ladies. The attack on Sara and Callie strengthens their feelings for each other, and they decide to make their sexuality more defined. The previous love lives of both Sara and Callie had been on the rocks, and both had decided to seek comfort by becoming lesbians. Sara is on the run to flee the attention of her boyfriend, Peter. On the other hand, Callie is in a casual relationship with George and is not interested in making the relationship serious. The arrangement of the external events is presented in the order of the play scenes. The scenes are arranged such that the external events with more weight come before the other events. For example, the investigation by Cole comes later to strengthen the belief by Sara and Callie that ladies should love each other.
Sara and Callie are the most important characters in the attack by the stranger. Sara and Callie represent the minority groups hated by the majority groups who do not respect the opinions of the minorities. The attack event happens at night on the road when Sara and Callie attempt their first kissing like lovers. Sara and Callie are driven by feelings of sexual attraction towards each other. The stranger is driven by hate and attacks the two ladies who have decided to go against the moral beliefs of the community.
The seed is based on a wrong belief about sexuality. The main characters show a flaw in that they engage in a homosexual relationship that is against the norms of the community. Romance could have been the major theme in the play, but the impulse caused by same-sex attraction makes things hard for Sara and Callie.
The wrong perception of sexuality meets the wrath of several people in various external events. The attack by a stranger implies that the stranger is furious of the behavior of the two ladies. Also, Peter is jealous of the relationship between Sara and Callie.
Some of the climax events in the play are the two instances of kissing, and the attack by a stranger. The first kiss that happens before the attack by a stranger is a climax of the feelings by Sara and Callie on each other. The attack by the stranger comes from the temper of the stranger towards the misbehavior of the ladies. The last kiss is not presented on stage but happens in the delay towards the end of the play.
The play was published in the year 1998. Apart from the timelines given before the start of the play, some events show that the play happened after 1980 since at some point Callie plays a song that she says is from the ’70s. The development of scenes follows a chronological order and the timelines can be known. The attack, for example, happens at around 4.15 am.
The play is set in Ney York City. The locations of each scene are stated in the play. For example, Scene one happens inside Callie’s apartment although movements are observed. The locations for the various scenes are not fixed, and some scenes happen on more than one location.
The society represented in the play is mostly composed of working individuals. Sara and Callie work as a teacher and a reporter respectively and are in a romantic relationship. The ex-lovers to Sara and Callie are also working. Cole is working as a police officer at the rank of a detective. The witness to the attack is also working as a nurse and attends to Sara.
The general economic system in the play is an employer-employee relationship. Most of the characters are employed in different jobs. Some businesses have been mentioned, for example, a restaurant where George works and a bar where Sara and Callie had gone before the attack. The economic system does not seem to affect the characters. The social structure is responsible for the traits associated with each character.
The play is based on a legal structure where law and order are left as the responsibility of the police. Cases of insecurity such as the attack on Callie and Sara, however, prove that security is not at its best. Politics do not appear significant in the play.
Spirituality does not appear significantly in the play. However, a specific norm seems existent in the community. The relationship between Sara and Callie does not appear acceptable among the other characters. The community can be said to be patriarchal.
The play exists in different worlds as expressed by the characters. The two main characters exist in a world that is full of freedom to choose what to and not to love. On the other side, the other characters do not accept the fact that two ladies have feelings for each other.
The main theme at work is violence in love. All the events involve love with romance that paves the way for violence. The attack on Sara and Callie is brought by the romance shown by the two ladies. Also, Peter almost becomes violent with Callie for not protecting Sara. His love for Sara and jealousy drives Peter due to the romantic relationship between Sara and Callie.
G.O.T.E
Sara is the new teacher in town who is having a love affair with Callie. The main obstacle between Sara and falling in love with Callie is the community. Sara decides to take the bull by its horns and falls in love. Sara expects that their love with Callie will be successful. Sara and Callie share similar goals.
George is the ex-lover to Callie. George plays a behind the scene role in their love with Callie. The main obstacle between George and becoming a secret love is the expectation by Callie. George expects to lead a successful secret affair with Callie.
Detective Cole is the police officer tasked with dealing with the case of Sara and Callie’s attack. The police officer utilizes the evidence from an eye witness. The main obstacle is the lack of tangible evidence. Detective Cole expects to have successful dealing with the case.
The nurse serves both as the nurse in charge of Sara’s treatment as well as the eye witness to the attack case. The nurse faces the obstacle of proving her point to the police. The nurse was at the scene at the time the attack happened.
Reference
Son, D. (2000). Stop Kiss. Dramatists Play Service Inc.