Love, prejudice and the essence of human resilience collide in Chanticleers Theatre’s production of Stop Kiss. Based on the 1999 Off-Broadway play by 13 Reasons Why co-showrunner Diana Son, this particular production arrives just in time for Chanticleers Theatre’s “Season of Love,” where every production for the 2025 season will feature a love story of sorts.
Set in 1990s New York City, the play follows the plight of a young traffic reporter named Callie (played by Delaney Corbitt). Callie finds herself in a crisis when her close friend Sara (played by Sophia Lanza-Weil) lies in a coma following a vicious attack stemming from a hate crime. As Callie gives her testimony of the attack to Detective Cole (Tony Parham), time jumps reveal the intricate chain of events leading up to Sara’s coma and the repercussions that follow.
The crux of the production is without question the performances given by Corbitt and Lanza-Weil. The duo display a masterful on-stage chemistry as their relationship evolves from playful curiosity to carnal desires conflicting with societal expectations.
Through Corbitt and Lanza-Weil’s faithful depictions of Callie and Sara, the audience absorbs the ever-relevant themes of sexual fluidity, homophobia, the fetishization of lesbianism and the struggles that victims of assault—victimized women in particular—endure to be believed by law enforcement and society at large.
While the lion’s share of stage time is reserved for Corbitt and Lanza-Weil, the small but impactful supporting cast assists in establishing Callie and Sara’s lore to the audience. The performances of Parham as Detective Cole, Jeremy Cortez as George, Connor Biondi as Peter, Marsha Howard as Mrs. Winsley and Lisa Saaz as Sara’s nurse remind the audience that the love between two people can upend the lives of those around them.
Much credit is also due to the set design team. The use of painted backdrops, walls that turn into fold-out doors and expert lighting aid in transporting the audience to the many sights and sounds of the ever bustling New York City. The meticulous playback of various sounds such as a commuter train passing by, the thumps of a noisy upstairs neighbor and the pulsing beats of nightclub music further immerse the audience into the distinctive settings during each time jump.
Through its brilliant acting and timely messages surrounding love, sexuality and overcoming societal prejudices, Chanticleers Theatre’s Stop Kiss is a more-than-fitting way to kick off the company’s 2025 Season of Love.
Due to the themes and intense subject matter, Stop Kiss is intended for adult audiences only.
Chanticleers Theatre’s ‘Stop Kiss’
May 2 – May 18
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm
Chanticleers Theatre
3683 Quail Ave., Castro Valley
