'.22 Caliber Mouth' premieres

An attempt to make sense of the human search for love and truth results in the explosion of language that characterizes ".22 Caliber Mouth," a new musical by local singer-songwriter Lauren Roberts.\n"Anyone who's interested in seeing cutting-edge theater and music should come see the show. It holds nothing back; it's true and raw -- tells the story without playing it safe," actor and script collaborator Richard Perez said.\nThe Bloomington Playwrights Project will open its 24th season with ".22 Caliber Mouth." The show, Roberts describes as "a play with music," opens today. \n"I think IU students would really recognize how words play such a part in our lives," Roberts said. "You know, we tease each other and abuse each other. Words are a powerful weapon; that's what the play is about."\nJohn Edward Kinzer, the director of audience development for the IU Theatre and Drama Center, directs ".22 Caliber Mouth." Though Kinzer has directed musicals before, this is BPP's first musical.\nThe main characters in ".22 Caliber Mouth," Deanne (Roberts) and Colin (Perez), "work together to overcome their past," said Perez, who also serves as Artistic Director of BPP.\nHuman nature is a theme of the production.\n"(The characters) dare to cover some taboo subjects. The message is universal, though. There's something in this play for everybody," Roberts said. \nPerez listened to several of Roberts' monologues before encouraging her to begin writing ".22 Caliber Mouth."\n"(Perez) just reached out to me," Roberts said. "Working with BPP has been a fantastic experience. It's been the closest thing to New York acting since I moved here."\nRoberts studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where ".22 Caliber Mouth" takes place. For 15 years she worked as an actor and recording artist with Epic Records.\n"I knew the characters that I'm writing about," she said. \nRoberts based the play on her observations of fellow actors in New York City, although Perez helped her write the script. \n"(Perez) mentored me. He contributed to the shape and made things more precise," she said. \nBoth actors also had the opportunity to perform in their play. Kinser said he is used to directing playwrights in their own works, although this instance proved a little more challenging because Roberts is also the composer and lyricist. \n"Sometimes I'd have to refer parts of the rehearsal to her," he said. "I say that the more people collaborating on something, the better."\nAfter months of writing, rehearsals and publicity, the cast of ".22 Caliber Mouth" is finally ready.\n"Even though the show is kind of dark and pushing the envelope, I really want people to come away knowing that we all struggle with our past. There is hope if we can move beyond the pain," Roberts said.\n".22 Caliber Mouth" will run Sept. 19 to Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. All performances will take place at the BPP, located at 312 S. Washington St. in the Tim Wiles Theatre. \nGeneral admission tickets are $15. Students and seniors may purchase tickets for $12. Call 355-9001 to make a reservation.\n-- Contact staff writer Stacey Laskin at slaskin@indiana.edu.