The tribe at the center of “Tribes” is an argumentative English family, a bunch of Brits who are prone to shouting matches and cruel taunts.
Except, that is, for Billy, one of three adult children in this combative clan. Billy has been deaf since birth, and the rest of the family often ignores him as he quietly sits in the midst of their rants.
But then Billy falls in love with Sylvia, a woman who’s going deaf, leading him to fall in with another tribe: the deaf community. Nina Raine’s drama, now at Steppenwolf Theatre, is the story of how Billy begins to declare independence from his family as he learns sign language (after a lifetime of lip reading).
In Act 1 of “Tribes,” it’s frustrating to watch the family—and not just because they’re frustrating people. It’s also because their verbal jousting doesn’t always feel credible. Even though this cast includes some fine actors (Francis Guinan, Steve Haggard, Molly Regan and Helen Sadler), it’s hard to believe that the characters aren’t more aware of the damage they’re inflicting on one another. A subplot about mental illness eventually offers some explanation for some of this behavior, but it feels like a half-explanation at best.
Director Austin Pendleton’s staging of “Tribes” is both more realistic and more enjoyable whenever the focus is on Billy (played with open, emotional honesty by John McGinty, an actor who’s deaf) and Sylvia (played with charisma and intelligence by Steppenwolf regular Alana Arenas). As they slip back and forth between spoken English and sign language, supertitles translate some of their dialogue for the benefit of audience members who don’t know how to sign. With its fluid mix of speech, sign and projected words, “Tribes” achieves a beautiful sort of multilingual poetry.
Billy’s growing assertiveness shakes up his parents and siblings, and thank goodness that it does. Once those early awkward scenes are out of the way, the family belatedly begins to learn what empathy is—and the characters also gain more depth. The final scenes of “Tribes” are emotionally stirring, almost unexpectedly so. In spite of its flaws, “Tribes” proves to be a rewarding experience by the time the actors take their bows.
“Tribes” continues through February 15 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. For tickets and details, call 312-335-1650 or visit the theatre’s website.
Photo: The cast of “Tribes” includes, from left, John McGinty, Molly Regan, Francis Guinan, Helen Sadler and Steve Haggard. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
