Words. Words. Words. It’s tricky enough navigating the fast-paced wit and verbal gymnastics of a noisy family’s repartee but for Billy, the only deaf member of his talkative clan, lipreading the nuances is particularly challenging. What’s more none of the family including Billy know sign language—a decision his parents made early on so he wouldn’t feel disadvantaged in a hearing world.

Enter Sylvia, Billy’s new girlfriend who puts the first chink in the family’s insular universe. Much to the family’s dismay, Sylvia, who is losing her hearing, escorts Billy into a new tribe, that of the deaf community. There he learns to sign—an act that turns all their assumptions about how we communicate topsy turvy. Along the way, we learn that language can build barriers as well as pull down walls.

Nina Raine’s award-winning play Tribes directed by Lean Ensemble Theater’s Blake White, features ensemble members Megan Bowers and Ian McCabe along with Joseph Ausanio (above), Jerry Durkin, Sarah Newhouse, and Prentiss Standridge.

American Sign Language interpreters at all performances and audience talkbacks with members of Lean Ensemble follow each show. January 26-28 & February 2-4 at 7:30 PM. Sunday matinees January 29 & February 5 at 2 PM. Hilton Head Preparatory School Main Street Theatre, 3000 Main Street, Hilton Head Island. Tickets: $40 evening performances; $35 matinees; $15 students/active military. www.leanensemble.org or call 843.715.6676.

Lean Ensemble Theater invites first responders to be our guests asa thank you for service you provide to our community. Please contact us at 843.715.6676.