The most beautiful love story that isn’t filled with cookie cutter presence. Love that unfolds mixed with uncertainty, a few doses of patience, and an uphill battle to allow love to be what it is pure and whole. I laughed from beginning to end but it was a laughter from familiarity. Love is special between two people even if those people just happens to be two women in Ireland who share a kiss inside of a grocery store. Alice and Alice just made me want to love better and on purpose.
Where did you share your first kiss? I personally shared my very first kiss after church of all places. I was giddy and just so full of puppy love. I didn’t even know myself. My first kiss with my now husband was inside of my dormitory. Something about that kiss let me know we would be where we are now. I knew he was my forever in just one kiss. It was magnificent and reassuring. Imagine having that first kiss as two women at a time when it was taboo to have and in public. Imagine someone seeing you and wanting to ask you questions about your journey. We see love now as love being love that covers multitudes of lines. It crosses all genres and it crosses all stereotypes. Alice and Alice didn’t live in that time. They were before their time. They had the weight of this love and stepping out in it and wondering if this “thing” was real.
I took my husband of whom I shared that magnificent kiss. We sat next to each other watching both Allices share their story. Their story mirrors ours. Each perspective of each other quite different than the other. Each love story having cracks and fishers. However, the love was strong enough to push through angry times, times of unsettling. I watched him laugh and enjoy the show. I looked at both ladies and they had their shares of imperfect moments. There’s an affair well at least 2 of them. The lines were blurred. One not feeling as if they had gotten what they needed from the other. I was glad to see this. I love to see the heartaches of love. In the beginning of love, you always have these amazing moments but that first disagreement, first sign of tension shows you who you have in front of you. Are the one who will bear the weather. Alice had to watch as Alice endured breast cancer. A challenge that would knock anyone of the love train.
I felt nervous for them. I felt every pain. Both women gave of themselves in this production. It was witty, engaging, and beautiful. I remember leaving and feeling so peaceful in their love as I enjoyed the hand of my husband. We don’t always get quiet moments. We are always on the go. We talked about the production and how much it was just the best love story that had to be told. I love the documentary style that the production provided. It was like watching a love game show to me where you hope the stories mirror but in this case it didn’t always. Alice fed off Alice and then the other way around. Both women remarkably candid. I knew that this was about two women’s story of love and the support that it gives for the LGBTQ+ community but if I can be honest, I saw past that. It was a love story. It was simply just beautiful. One of the most beautiful one that I had seen in quite time. It was like a movie and a coming into the confidence of that love.
Sometimes when you hear about same sex couples the focus is on the trauma of acceptance. They were simply loving like everyone else. They were simply trying to shower themselves in as much love they could possibly give. Their love was affectious. It was simply two women who just happen to be women loving one another. This takes the truest form of Love is Love to what it should truly mean. Sometimes I believe that heterosexual folks say Love is Love to make sure they show solidarity for LGBTQ+ but I love Alice is the production that teaches what Love looks like. Its not about getting others to accept it but showcasing and calling you to love better while you watch love take flight.
Love is like an envelope you know what you put into it you will get back in return, but you know there are times when what’s in the envelope challenges you as well. What will you do with the expectation of love? Let it overflow and make the decision to love and don’t forget love as the foundation of all you do. This is a production for all. Everyone who thinks they are in love, want love, or simply need a new sprinkle of love needs to be in the seats. Alice’s love for Alice is that production that challenges you to simply enjoy love for what it is to be.
Yes, Alice and Alice are two women both named Alice. I love Alice was written by Amy Conroy and co-directed by Gay Carducci and Rachel Gluck. It stars Trice Baldwin Browns and Aetna Gallagher as Alice respectively. I love Alice is being shown at one of my favorite theatres, Curio Theatre located at 4740 Baltimore Avenue in West Philly. It’s a gem of a theatre. Also know that I love Alice will be in production until February 29, 2020 and makes a great Valentines Day gift. Allot a little time for parking. There is a lot at 4716-23 Baltimore Avenue when available. I usually elect to park on the street and so far, I have yet to have issues. The staff at Curio are always super welcoming. You will have a great experience while there. Thanks to Carrie Gorn, and Curio Theatre for having me. This production is such a great way to experience Philly Theatre Week. Thank you to my forever date, Marques!
