Theater Mu's peerless Stands On Its Own

The dark saga of teen girlhood continues on

Photo by Rich Ryan

What is it about teenaged girls that imbues our society with such a primal fear?

Photo by Rich Ryan

There is a rich heritage of horror narratives about girls around the age 16 mark. Sometimes they're heroes (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, natch), but more often they are complicated villains (here's looking at you Heathers and Mean Girls) or even veer towards to outright horrifying (think Stephen King's gruesome Carrie or the all-male Lord of the Flies).

Photo by Rich Ryan

The latest new work from Theater Mu (now showing at the Gremlin Theater in St. Paul through February 16) stands smack on the Carrie end of the spectrum. peerless details two sisters who are nearly identical in appearance and are well on their way towards achieving lofty ambitions despite their young age. When they are not accepted immediately into the prestigious Ivy league college that is the foundation of their future plans, the sisters panic and take drastic (and I mean DRASTIC) action to eliminate their competition, both among school peers and even a former boyfriend. They soliloquize plenty of soul crushing assumptions about race, class and gender along the way, and learn with the help of a clairvoyant classmate that even accurate predictions do not always result the way they seem they should and that no one can be trusted.

Photo by Rich Ryan

The small cast here often performs double duty, with exception of our leading sisters M and L. Francesca Dawis plays M and Isabella Dawis plays L. They are eerily similar in appearance, and once they got into a flow they seemed like an uneasy mirror of one another. Their yin and yang dynamic tugs the audience through an emotional upheaval, and the Dawis sisters have no fear in taking their characters' darkness all the way. Meredith Casey is convincingly unhinged as the oracle, aka Dirty Girl, whose sickening predictions set the whole wheel of disaster in motion. Kenyai O'Neal is sadly lovely as M's doomed boyfriend BF, and I wished we saw a bit more of his character throughout. Neal Beckman was the bright spot as the charmingly cursed D; his appearances were often the sole spot of humor in the show, an element peerless sorely needed.

Photo by Rich Ryan

The scenic design by Joe Stanley is multitasking and innovative, featuring revolving walls, benches that also serve as beds and TV consoles, and hidden lockers. I enjoyed watching the seemingly simple setting continue to expose new tricks, and it works really well to keep the action fast-paced. Karin Olson's lighting design and Kevin Springer's sound design are dramatic and lend the full creepy feeling to the show. I loved Khamphian Vang's vibrant, color-blocked costuming; it's very vibey and may even have been my favorite element of the whole play.

Photo by Rich Ryan

peerless is self-described as Macbeth for modern teenagers but exploring race issues, and I think that's about right. It's Lily Tung Crystal's first time directing since she was named Theater Mu's artistic director last year, and it's a striking debut. For myself: I have to be honest - peerless was not my flavor of the week. I've enjoyed many texts in this genre, but something about the Jiehae Park's script felt disconnected to me. There are several moments of shocking revelation, especially in the sisters' relations to people of other races. I understand why they were included the way they were and the point they were trying to make, but the resolution of the play to me felt too bare-boned for the complexity of the problems and assumptions named throughout the script. The issues peerless raises are deep and darkly internalized for a lot of us, with devastating consequences for their real-life victims; I really hoped for an honest confrontation about them to help the audience learn from the sisters' mistakes, rather than a simple slash and burn approach to justice (which felt like the easy way out).

That said, if the horror genre is your jam then you will probably find many elements of peerless to like and it seemed much of the audience found this funnier than I did - so why not check it out? peerless was a bold choice for Tung Crystal to open her leadership with, and I'm excited to see what she has next in store. For more information or to get tickets, click on this link.

Theater Mu's Fast Company is a Fun Ride

Dare to keep up with this witty new con caper. 

Photo courtesy of Theater Mu

As we roll into holiday season, the typical reason for the season spiel, while appropriate, can start to get really tired.

Photo by Rich Ryan

I mean I'll readily admit that I'm a Grinch, but be honest: don't you get a little tired of seeing the same kinds of stories this time of year?

Photo by Rich Ryan

If you're anything like me, eschew Christmas this and holiday that and enjoy a show like Theater Mu's Fast Company, a witty new comic-mystery, instead. This story focuses on a family of con-men and miscreants who are so devious that they even betray each other. Blue tries to pull off the heist of a lifetime: swindling a collector out of a rare $1.5 million first edition comic book. It seems ready to go off without a hitch; that is, until her brother H steals it right from under her nose. It turns out that H is in deep gambling debt with a gangster named Jimmy, but unfortunately his theft not only breaks the con-man code but endangers his sister's life as much as his own. Blue turns to her other brother Francis and mother Mable to find a way to con the comic out of H's hands. Her idea, which utilizes game theory, is air tight - except someone else gets it before she can get to H. The rest of the play involves the family tracking each other around the world and immersing into increasingly complex cons to gain equal footing, until a final explosive reveal ends their competition once and for all.

Photo by Rich Ryan

It's not quite what I was expecting but I really enjoyed the wry nature of this story. It's an edgier and more profane play than I'm used to seeing Theater Mu perform, but it was one of the most genuine group performances I've seen them do in a while. The cast all had great chemistry, and if this is any sign of the future from new Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal I'm really excited about what's ahead. Jeannie Lander has a subtly devious energy as Mable that reminded me of the sly way Michelle Yeoh is playing the evil captain on the new Star Trek: Discovery series, which is to say: I loved her. Ming Montgomery stumbled on a couple of lines but I really liked her overall as Blue. She has a very genuine delivery that made this crazy story believable. Brian Kim was cool as a cucumber as the criminally talented Francis and his energy really drove the show. Rounding out the cast was Eric 'Pogi' Sumangil as the problematic H, who I've had the privilege of seeing in several shows. This might be my favorite performance of his to-date, as he brings a delightful comedic twist to his otherwise troubled character and really lets his warm charisma shine through.

Photo by Rich Ryan

Joel Sass's set echoes the comic book theme of this theatrical caper, and it mostly succeeds. I wish the projections, designed by Miko Simmons, were just a little bit brighter to really bring the theme home; as it is, they feel a bit washed out and don't have the full comic dynamism that could have lent this a Marvel edge. Ash Kaun's costumes are pretty straightforward and each character feels modern and comfortable. There wasn't much special about Karin Olson's lighting design or Montana Johnson's sound design, but everything seemed to run well. Overall, I have to extend a hearty bravo to director Brian Balcom, who has directed several other shows locally and in Chicago but I have somehow missed until now. He coaxed dynamic performances out of this cast and I hope to see his talented hand guiding future #tctheater shows.

Photo by Rich Ryan

Fast Company's closing is quickly approaching, so you have to book it quickly if you want to catch it before the last performance on November 24. For what it's worth, I think you should go. It should be no surprise to long-time readers that Theater Mu has consistently been a local highlight for me, and I'll admit that I was more than a little concerned about their future around this time last year. The company is still early under Lily Tung Crystal's fledgling leadership, but I'm really impressed with what I've seen so far and excited for what's ahead. Fast Company has all the elements I like in plays: it's modern, comedic, includes a mystery and is very approachable for a wide audience. It's a breath of fresh air from heavier dramatic and seasonal fare at this time of year and a great option for a quick pre-Thanksgiving date night. Click here to get your tickets before this little gem of a play is gone.

Aubergine is a Quiet Pleasure

"We're always already dead - so why not live?"

Photo by Rich Ryan

The culinary world has been having a good run in pop culture for the last decade or so. Beginning with the explosion of food TV pioneered by Emeril Lagasse, Anthony Bourdain and the Food Network, culinary stories have finally trickled onto stages around the country. What's that all about? It might be because food is a universal human need and a communication device that can transcend cultural barriers and provide a new window into subjects that normally function as taboo.

Photo by Rich Ryan

The last few years have seen a host of food-themed shows in #tctheater. How To Use A Knife told the true story about life as a chef, which is much darker than most people suspect. Waitress is a musical about a server whose real talent is in baking pies, which helps her escape her abusive husband. Guess Who's Coming To Dinner explores the tensions over a meal when a "liberal" couple realizes their white daughter plans to marry a black man in the 1960s. The inimitable playwright Lynn Nottage focuses Floyd's on the life of inmates struggling to integrate in society after release from prison and sets the entire show in the kitchen of a sandwich restaurant.

Photo by Rich Ryan

And now we have Aubergine at Park Square Theatre, a story about illness and death and cultural memory as intimately related through food. Ray is a chef who is on an indefinite hiatus from work to take care of his father, who is very sick and near dying. Ray's mother died in an accident when he was young and Ray has no support system to help him through this difficult time. He turns to an ex-girlfriend, Cornelia, to help him contact his father's younger brother back home in Korea before his father dies (Ray does not speak much Korean himself). Cornelia reluctantly helps Ray and becomes an integral part of Ray's life in his father's last days, interpreting conversations between Ray and his uncle, and helping heal some longstanding wounds within Ray and his family memories. Lucien, the hospice nurse attending Ray's father, also becomes a calming presence in Ray's life as his father dies. It's a quiet exploration of what really matters in life and the relationships we need to maintain to stay connected to our humanity and happiness, a lovely message.

Photo by Rich Ryan

The main thing that attracted me to Aubergine was the cast, featuring some of my favorite local actors. Sun Mee Chomet, always a highlight, shines as Cornelia. She delivers a wide range of lines in Korean and English with equal aptitude, and provides many of Aubergine's comedic and poignant highlights. Kurt Kwan brings subtlety and heart to his role as Ray. You really feel for his plight and driftlessness, and he has great chemistry with Chomet. Song Kim is lovely as Ray's long-estranged uncle, and despite the fact that he almost exclusively has lines in Korean, we know exactly what he means to say. It adds a delightful depth to the show, and I loved the nuance the linguistic transitions provided. Darrick Moseley adds so much warmth to the stage through his portrayal of Lucien; he has a softness and heart that breaks open Ray's character.

Photo by Rich Ryan

The real focus of Aubergine is on Ray's emotional turmoil, and the production design facilitates that well. The set design by Deb O centers mostly on the hospice bed and a few sparse areas in Ray's home. It is relatively drab but that's okay, because it's supposed to be. The same can be said of the costume design by Amber Brown. Kathy Maxwell's video design is one of the few welcome pops of color, and well chosen props design by Kenji Shoemaker provides the attention to detail that makes the blander settings come to life. I'm not sure if Chomet's striking platinum bob was a production choice or her own decision, but either way it adds a subtle characterization to her portrayal of Cornelia that I thought was very fetch. 

Photo by Rich Ryan

I adore Theater Mu and I love seeing them partner with other theaters in town, but I have to say that it's really nice to see a main stage in the Twin Cities doing a story about Asian Americans on their own too. Aubergine is a lovely little play with some important things to say, and it deserves the kind of wider platform a place like Park Square Theatre can give it. Chomet and Kwan are charming co-stars, and the hard work Park Square Theatre has done to portray cultures accurately does not go unnoticed. Regardless of your family heritage, I think anyone can connect to Aubergine's messages of loss, loneliness, fear and love. I'd definitely recommend crossing the river to see this show before it closes on October 20. For more information or to buy tickets, click on this link.

Photo by Rich Ryan

A Steaming “Hot Asian Doctor Husband”

If you’re a rom com fan, this is the show for you

Photo courtesy of Theater Mu

I’ve waxed ad nauseam about my love for new theater work, and one of my favorite companies consistently celebrating and commissioning new plays is Theater Mu. Their new play, Hot Asian Doctor Husband, is another exciting addition to the catalog and one I think will be traveling around the country for some time.

It goes like this: Emi and Collin seem made for each other – except they’re not. At least in her mind. Emi is mixed race, and the more serious things get with Collin, the more she questions if they have a viable future. She is especially worried about having kids who might not identify with her Japanese heritage. To further complicate things, Emi’s mother, who raised her a single parent and was her last direct link to her ethnic history, recently died in a tragic accident. Emi decides to take a leap of faith and find a “hot Asian doctor husband” to fulfill her fantasy of an idyllic Asian American household, breaking up with Collin and stunning her friends.

The trouble is, of course, that love doesn’t work on preferred timelines and specific fantasies. Emi and especially Collin still have feelings for each other, which is plainly evident when they continue to run into each other after the breakup. Emi does find a hot Asian doctor and it seems like things will work out; the only trouble is that he is already someone else’s husband, which Emi learns in a devastating emotional blow that finally pushes her to confront her unprocessed depression and sadness about her mother’s death. The play goes a little off the rails after the affair with the doctor ends, taking a turn from nippy comedy into a serious exploration of mental health issues; it felt a little bit like two different plays in one, but it leaves the audience with a rich understanding of Emi’s identity crisis by the time we leave.

The cast includes Theater Mu regulars and several newcomers, and they’re a really fun crew. Meghan Kreidler deftly handles the role of Emi. No matter how serious or radical her character’s actions seem, Kreidler keeps them believable and touching. Damian Leverett is a joy as the shunned, mournfully #woke Collin; by leaning into the stereotype, he finds some kernels of truth about the white male experience that are new on the stage. Mikell Sapp is delightful as Emi’s best friend Leonard. I haven’t seen him on stage before and I sure hope this isn’t the last time. Danielle Troiano is equally lovely as Leonard’s girlfriend Veronica, bringing vulnerability and poise to the role. Eric Sharp is thoroughly, gut-splittingly hilarious as the Hot Asian Doctor Husband. His scenes were among my favorite in the show and I wish we got a little more of him. And eternal favorite Sun Mee Chomet is fabulous as the Mother characters, milking the most of her time on stage and making a great mentor to Maekalah Ratsabout, the young actress playing the child version of Emi.

The clever scenic design by Sarah Brandner is millennial approved and has all sorts of Ikea-style innovations that keep the action swiftly moving and the aesthetic clean. Costumes, by Jeni O’Malley, are equally well matched to the tone. Karin Olson’s lighting design and Katharine Horowitz’s sound design are subtle and warm, enhancing the action on stage (especially Horowitz’s original music, composed with Damian Leverett). And it’s good to see the importance of physical movement in comedy embraced by Magnolia Yang Sao Yia’s clever choreography and Lauren Keating’s intimacy consulting, a field I suspect we’ll see much more of on programs around #tctheater in this season and beyond.

Hot Asian Doctor Husband is one of the shows I was most excited for this year, and it doesn’t disappoint. Like any new play, there is some revision I’d do on a future iteration to help clarify the story – is it about Emi and Collin’s relationship, or her relationship with her mother? – but the content here is engaging and has a lot of potential. It’s a golden time for Asian Americans* in the rom com world, and Theater Mu’s consistently approachable and inspiring new work is a vital addition to the genre. Make sure to head to Mixed Blood Theatre to check it out before it closes on September 1; click here for more information or to buy tickets.

*If you want more shows like this one on the silver screen, you’re in luck! Here are a few in the last year that I have really loved: 

• Crazy Rich Asians (I also devoured the book series – highly recommend as perfect beach reads) 
• To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (Probably my favorite on this list – keep an eye out for the sequel next year!)
• Always Be My Maybe (and don't miss Ali Wong's comedy stand-up specials, also on Netflix)
• Anything by Mindy Kaling - I especially love The Mindy Project, but Late Night and Four Weddings and A Funeral are also surefire bets. And although technically off the scope of this list, who could possibly forget The Office (the episodes Kaling authors are all my favorites)
• Fresh Off the Boat (Not technically a rom com but a hilarious comedy that does include winsome romance in some episodes and two of my favorite stars of movies listed above, Constance Wu and Randall Park)

The Brothers Paranormal is a Thrilling Nail-Biter

Although not my preferred genre, horror really seems to be having a moment these days. 

Thanks to brilliant filmmakers like Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) and Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story), horror is becoming a nuanced, complex genre that many people share a love of. More than many genres it is a group fan effort, with people taking whole friend groups or hosting viewing parties to dissect the latest and greatest. 

That said, horror is not a genre often seen on stage. There are likely many reasons for this, but it makes those who do attempt productions stand out in the crowd. The Brothers Paranormal, a blended production equally co-produced by Penumbra Theatre and Theater Mu, is an excellent addition to this group and a true original in more ways than one. 

The Brothers Paranormal tells the story of two Thai brothers, Max and Visarut, as they make their first home site visit for their fledgling business investigating ghostly paranormal activity. Delia, a transplant from New Orleans, is terrified as she describes seeing an angry Asian woman who she is certain is a ghost. Thinking they are about to earn some easy cash, Max and Visarut immediately dispatch to Delia's home, where they meet her husband Felix and learn many unsettling details about the case. I don't want to reveal any more of the plot here because there are many important, unnerving surprises in this nail-biter of a script; instead, I'll just say that even the most jaded, experienced theater goer is likely to find plot twists here that they didn't expect, and it is a really exciting live experience. 

One of the unusual things about this show is that it truly blends different cultures (in this case Thai immigrant and African American), making both greater than the sum of their parts by their contrast. There were nuggets of cultural information and history tucked throughout the script that I didn't know before, and in addition to the thrilling action I was delighted to have learned a lot of new things by the end of the show. It helps that The Brothers Paranormal is perfectly cast, with a rock-solid group that brings so much nuance to their acting. Perennial favorite Regina Marie Williams is magnificent as Delia, making the ghostly visions totally believable. Sherwin Resurreccion is tenderly emotive as Max and brings a real depth to his role, leaving many of us teary-eyed on more than one occasion. Kurt Kwan brings necessary levity as Visarut, and James Craven is powerful as the concerned husband Felix. Michelle de Joya is positively terrifying as Jai (you'll know what I mean); hats off to her serious physicality. And the standout was new-to-me Leslie Ishii as Max and Visarut's mother Tasanee; Ishii was a warm, mysterious presence throughout the show, and her story was the most profound for me. I'd love to see her stay in the Twin Cities to work with more companies in the future. 

The set, designed by Vicki Smith, bears many hallmarks of Penumbra's recent shift in vision, with small but expertly crafted dioramas that hold all sorts of surprising, secret special effects. Combined with Mathew LeFebvre's simple costume design, we are able to stay focused on the tiny details that alert us to paranormal presence, and several are real wowzers. Karin Olson and Scott Edwards play several tricks through their respective lighting and sound design that had me on the edge of my seat, and Ruth Coughlin Lenkowski's dialect coaching provided nuanced characterizations for each generation of character in the show. Hats off overall to the direction from Lou Bellamy and assistant direction from Sun Mee Chomet; their clear vision provides a seamless integration of two very different companies, and this excellent production is better for both of their involvement. 

The Brothers Paranormal is a significant performance for several reasons. It's one of the best live horror shows I've seen on stage, anywhere; it combines two powerhouse but very different companies and provides a template for how to produce more integrated work in the future (which I surely hope to see); and it also marks by far the most ambitious outing for Theater Mu since the abrupt departure of their long-term artistic director, Randy Reyes. Bringing in Sun Mee Chomet to lead Theater Mu's portion of the production was an inspired choice and shows that Theater Mu is going to stay a strong presence in #tctheater regardless of the unexpected changes. I am very excited to see where Theater Mu's leadership search finally ends up, and if The Brothers Paranormal is any indication we have great things to expect in the future. 

If you're on the fence because of content, know that I loved this production despite being a person who hates being scared. It's a gripping and beautifully acted drama starring some of our finest local actors, and there's not a bad seat in the house to see the really special production design. I highly recommend readers check this out; for more information or to buy your tickets, click on this link. 

Reviewed in Brief: The Last Firefly by Theater Mu

What does community outreach mean to you? 

Photo courtesy of Mu Performing Arts

How about accessibility?

For a lot of people I imagine the definition would be pretty literal - have you invited people to attend your show? Do you have ramps and elevators for those who can't climb stairs? That's usually where those answers end.

I'd like to open a dialogue about a deeper kind of accessibility and outreach: Who gets to make art to begin with? Where do they perform it? How do they expand their group to organically include more and more types of people?

Theater Mu (Mu), one of my favorite local companies, really excels at this mission, and their latest show The Last Firefly takes it a step further. The Last Firefly is a zippy 70-ish minute script that tells a fable about how a girl (Boom) discovers who her father (Thunder) is; finds a long-lost sister (Lightning); makes friends with woodland creatures (Monkey and Spider); and rescues her mother (Kuroko) from her evil stepfather (Ax). Its a simple, animistic tale that I find a spare beauty in and really enjoyed at the Children's Theatre Company (CTC) a couple of years ago (click here for my review). Mu's staging is decidedly less lavish than CTC's, but it includes a lot more participation from untrained actors in the local community, and the contrast was really interesting to me.

The core actors are formed of Mu cast members and are surrounded with participation from local schools. Shina Xiong makes for a plucky Boom, and what she lacks in finesse she makes up for in great energy and spirit on stage. Gregory Yang clearly relishes playing the dangerous Ax, and I loved the clean lines and physicality Kajsiab "Jade" Yang brought to her role as the zesty Lightning. I think this is Daisuke Kawachi's first time directing Mu, and he incorporates many new faces we haven't normally seen in this crew. The results have mixed success, but I think that's okay - this is a very young crew overall, with many students in their first time ever on a professional stage, and they bring so much heart and energy to their parts.

And this last point is what I really wanted to get at with the conversation about outreach and accessibility. What better way to build a theater community - both in audiences and on-stage - than to take a risk and include students in your shows? It might not give a production a highly polished sheen like you'd see on a CTC or Guthrie stage, but it will inspire a passion in the hearts of those kids and pay it forward many times over as they grow older, learn more about theater, and one day decide how they want to remain engaged with that world. I think that's an honorable cause, and one I don't see a lot of local companies take.

The Last Firefly marks a new era and a fresh start for Mu in many ways; for that reason, this is going to feel decidedly different than their other work has over the last few years. Like any new beginning there are sidesteps and stumbles; this wasn't my favorite Mu show I've seen in recent memory. But all of that said, there are so many risky, new ideas here (like that troupe of excited young actors or an abstract set design that moves around the actors - instead of the actors around the set), and I appreciate that Mu is willing to take a chance on trying something different and moving forward in an innovative new way. Watching the students on stage brought back fond memories of my first experiences in theater - scared to death, intimidated by all those blinking eyes in the darkness, and the confidence it brought when I finally found my voice there. I have always liked the sweet script of The Last Firefly and the study in contrasts between this production and CTC's gives me lots of food for thought. I think there are important places for both approaches to this story, and I'd encourage curious readers to give this show a chance to see what you think. Click here for more information and to get tickets before the show closes at Steppingstone (such a cool local venue!) on April 7.

GSVLOC Modernizes "The Mikado"

Are you familiar with Rick Shiomi? 

Photo courtesy of GSVLOC

If not, what rock have you been hiding under!

One of the legendary luminaries of the #tctheater scene, Rick founded Mu Performing Arts (one of my favorite local companies), Full Circle Theater (another favorite local company!), and has been pitching in at theaters around the Twin Cities to consult and produce various shows.

One of the most interesting things about Rick, to me, is that while firmly (and correctly) in the camp of increasing on-stage diversity, he is not someone who always agrees we should throw out racist old shows. In the first ever Twin Cities Theater Blogger Continuing Conversation series, which was focused on race (and unfortunately was the only one our group never recorded - such a shame!), Rick spoke eloquently and at length about the possibility of rewriting such scripts to be more historically accurate, not racist, and still retain the spirit of the original that audiences have admired for generations. The case study he presented at that time was The King and I - did you know that the real-life Anna Leonoens was actually bi-racial, completely changing the context of that musical in a good re-write?! - but it turns out that's not the only show he has thoughts about.

The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company (GSVLOC), which produces one Gilbert & Sullivan show every year, chose The Mikado as their show for 2019. If you are not familiar, the show goes like this: Franki-Poo, the crown prince, has run away from home (and Katy Shaw, the woman who has betrothed herself to him), in order to regain freedom of choice and find true love. He meets and falls in love with Tum Tum, the beautiful young ward - and fiancee - of the creepy (but cunning) Co Co. Co Co is kept in power by the Lord High Everything Else, the man who singlehandedly holds all offices in this imaginary English city called Ti-Tea-Pu. When the King of England sends word he will visit, he also sends word that Ti-Tea-Pu is in need of holding an execution. The chosen subject is none other than the king's son-in-disguise Franki-Poo, who is willing to die from pining after his lost love; but there's a catch. Tum Tum doesn't actually want to marry Co Co, instead finding a way to marry Franki-Poo; and the leaders of Ti-Tea-Pu all learn Franki-Poo is the king's son and can't be killed anyway. Typical Gilbert & Sullivan shenanigans ensue, and everything turns up roses by the end.

Photo courtesy of GSVLOC

The historic issue with The Mikado is that Gilbert & Sullivan wrote it to be a parody of England, and it became an enormously successful one - but only because it was set in Japan. The Mikado is easily the best selling Gilbert & Sullivan show in history, while also being historically performed in yellow face with abounding racial stereotypes about Japanese people. Throw in a few n-words and other racial stereotypes on top of it, and the show becomes atomically problematic. See the trouble?

So along comes Rick Shiomi at the request of GSVLOC, who not only rewrote the show to remove those harmful stereotypes, but delightfully modernized it to reflect today's American politics and cultural references. The effect is a show you would never know was re-written, that is infinitely easier for an audience to understand and relate to, and in my humble opinion the most Gilbert & Sullivan-y way to treat such a script to begin with - after all, every one of these shows was originally written as a cultural commentary before things like Saturday Night Live or Key & Peele existed, so shouldn't contemporary productions reflect current events as well?

I first discovered GSVLOC last year, which is a shame because I generally love Gilbert & Sullivan humor and they are a terrifically talented group. The ensemble sounds gorgeous every chance they get to assemble, and I found myself often wishing there were more full-ensemble numbers, a rarity for me in a show that clocks nearly three hours. All of these leads are charismatic, but I especially enjoyed Maggie Matejcek as a sly Tum Tum; Anthony Rohr as a love-stricken Franki-Poo; Alex Kolyszko as Lord High Everything Else (and the winner for Man Having Most Fun On Stage at my performance); and Lara Trujillo as a spectacularly devious Katy Shaw. I could have watched Trujillo alone all night, and I really hope I encounter her in future productions.

Photo courtesy of GSVLOC

With so many people on stage and involved in the musical aspects of The Mikado (at least 50 between the singers and pit orchestra), the production design is relatively straightforward - which is not a bad thing. The static set by Larry Rostad is painted with romantic technicolor tones reminiscent of an Old Hollywood watercolor and Edwardian English style. The costumes, by Barb Portinga, are similarly grounded and effective. The music direction, by Randal Buikema, is gorgeous and the supporting orchestra does a beautiful job of pacing the music. And the overall stage direction by Rick Shiomi - much like his inspired script re-writes - keeps this show feeling fresh, young, and engaging, an experience which I greatly appreciated.

I am all about advocating for new work to be written and produced that is inclusive and modern and not-problematic; but I also recognize that there are shows that have been beloved for other reasons, and that companies still want to produce them. By bringing in a visionary like Rick Shiomi to move The Mikado into the modern era, GSVLOC has found a way to have their cake and eat it too. They clearly enjoy working with this new script and perform the music with full conviction. It's a really fun experience with all sorts of hidden gems that will delight anyone who follows the news every night, and I think this refreshed version of The Mikado is a much more accessible version of the show than you might assume at first glance. GSVLOC generally only does a show or two a year, so now is your chance to catch them before The Mikado is gone; click here for more information and to buy tickets before the show closes on April 7.

The Wolves Remains a Hit

Is anyone in #tctheater having a better year than Sarah Rasmussen? 

Photo by Dan Norman

Named the Star Tribune's 2018 Artist of the Year, Rasmussen must be flying on a cloud. The Jungle Theater has produced hit after sold out hit since she took the helm in 2015, and her fresh, female-forward perspective is boldly changing the kind of stories and the way those stories are told on #tctheater stages beyond her queendom in Uptown.

Thanks to this success, the Jungle now has two stages running concurrently for the first time ever! On their marquis space on Lyndale is The Children (which I reviewed a few weeks ago - click here for the link). Last night The Wolves, an immediate sell-out and the Twin Cities Theater Blogger's pick for best ensemble performance in 2018, re-opened at the Southern Theater on Seven Corners. I was one of the few unlucky souls who didn't manage to snag a ticket to last year's performance, so I was thrilled to get the chance to check it out this year. Spoiler alert: it was completely worth the wait.

Photo by Dan Norman

The Wolves is a true ensemble drama, depicting the pre-game chatter of a team of high school-aged soccer players as they stretch and warm up before their games. We hear them talk about tampons vs. pads; sneaking out to drink at parties; deeply debate the subject matter in their history homework assignments (Pol Pot vs. Hitler makes an appearance); struggle to feel seen and included; absorb a "new girl" who moves late into their tight knit circle; gossip about shared acquaintances; strategize how to beat their next opponent; support each other after their friends and family members die; and so much more. In short, it's the entirety of teenage girl's experiences told exclusively by teenaged girl characters, distilled into a zippy 95 minute drama that instantly captivated the audience.

Photo by Dan Norman

I think The Wolves is the perfect harbinger of the Jungle's success under Sarah Rasmussen, and let me tell you why: this show felt so organic, so natural in the flow of the season, and is so perfectly cast and produced, that you don't even realize how revolutionary it is. The Wolves moved me deeply despite the seemingly banal nature of its subject matter because I've never seen such an honest depiction of a teen girl's experience on stage. Obviously what The Wolves portrays is not an exact avatar for all teen girls' lives - there are always shades in everyone's experience of the world and the experiences collected here don't cross every race / sexuality / economic line - but overall it allows a frankness that isn't often allowed to women at all, let alone girls in their teenage years. Teens experience things like death or serious illness or injury all the time, but due to their young age it's often assumed that they are unaffected or don't understand the severity of such events. The experience boys have in puberty are infamously portrayed in all sorts of shows, from wet dreams to having sex with pies, to sneaking dirty magazines - but how often do you hear a tampon thrown around in casual conversation? Or using Plan B? It's revolutionary content because it is so commonly ignored, and bravo to Sarah Delappe for a fabulous script that unveils the layers of this experience in a way that all audience members (including the men, of which there were many), can relate to.

Photo by Dan Norman

Part of the success of The Wolves is also due to its tightly knit ensemble actors. All of this dynamic, spicy young cast has gone on to great things in other shows; just look at this lineup!

• Chloe Armao, who was part of the Guthrie's thoughtful Trouble in Mind
• Megan Burns, part of the stunning production of Little Women at the Jungle as well as shows with Mixed Blood, Theater Latte Da and other of my local favorite companies
• Michelle de Joya, who has delighted in several Mu Performing Arts productions including Flower Drum Song and Tot: the untold (yet spectacular) Story of a Filipino Hulk Hogan
• Becca Hart, who jumped into leading roles in Mary Poppins and Into the Woods after this performance
• McKenna Kelly-Eiding, who starred as Sherlock Holmes in Baskerville at Park Square Theatre, one of my favorite shows of last year
• Isabella Star Lablanc, also a standout in Little Women and who is breaking new ground as a Native American artist on stages and on film across the country
• And a host of up and coming young actresses who are certain to become well known, including Rosey Lowe, Shelby Rose Richardson, Meredith Casey, all of whom are backed up by local legend Jennifer Blagen

It was such a pleasure to watch them all engage in a public form of sisterhood, and I hope their impressive collaboration here allows for more shows with multiple women (hello Bechdel test!) on stages across the Twin Cities. This is a show that is clearly made by women, starring women, for women, and I can't express enough how meaningful that experience was for me. I am so glad the Jungle decided to re-mount this excellent production, and if you didn't get a chance to see it the first time around it absolutely deserves a look. The run goes through February 17 and if last night's packed stage (despite the polar vortex) is any indication, you'll want to snap up your tickets immediately because this one is sure to sell out again. For more information about the dynamic, the powerful, the incredible play The Wolves, click here to see more and to buy those tickets.

The Great Leap Reaches for the Stars

I've always loved historical fiction, but it can be a tricky thing to get right. 

Photo by Dan Norman

Where is the line between taking a fictional account of history too far and hitting just the right balance? Done well, historical fiction can provide an exciting, accessible way to engage with past events that might otherwise seem dull and boring. Done sloppily, the genre can irresponsibly give audiences a misconception of what happened and an incorrect basis on which to place their knowledge of history. Even small errors can vastly change the course of a person's context for the world (for example, someone who doesn't know about the three fifths compromise in the U.S. Constitution will have a hard time grasping the full reality of racism in the American legal justice system), which has direct consequences when it comes time to vote or make policy.

Photo by Dan Norman

That's why I appreciate creative, responsible historical fiction so much - I believe it its power and have seen the near-instantaneous changes it can inspire when it's done right (I mean, helloooo Hamilton). The Great Leap, now showing at the Guthrie Theater, is just such a show. It weaves two historical occurrences - basketball games played between U.S. and Chinese college teams in the 1980s and the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 - to help audiences understand what was at stake in the roiling change China experienced in the late 1980s. It's a masterful piece of writing that could easily convince an audience that it's true, and the seemingly incongruous themes of communism vs. capitalism and a broken family history told in the sports arena are seamlessly woven together into a single compelling package. It's the first mainstream Guthrie production I've seen centering Asian American stories (past productions have been hosted in the Level 9 theater featuring visiting companies like Mu Performing Arts - which is great but not the same), an overdue treatment and one that I hope we see a lot more of in the future.

Photo by Dan Norman

The Great Leap follows Manford, a bombastic, gifted high school basketball player, as he tries to join the University of San Francisco basketball team to play a traveling game in Beijing in June 1989. Coach Saul (who leads the UCSF team) is a profane, washed up figure who needs an athletic anchor to save face in his last shot at remaining a coach. Manford talks Saul into letting him play without revealing that he has significant personal reasons to go on the trip, a fact that severely complicates the game once the team arrives in China. When Manford's good friend Connie learns of his plans, she reluctantly helps him go but only after helping set up security measures should something go wrong on the trip - which it does. Wen Chang, the Beijing coach, patiently lies in wait for the American team once it arrives and is ready to beat them at their own game - but the dynamic forces at play in Beijing in 1989 prove too much for him to overcome as the tumult of Tianenmen Square and the pressures of foreign media explode by the end of the show.

Photo by Dan Norman

This full, richly nuanced story would seem to require a large cast, and yet it is pulled off with a tight-knit crew of four actors. Manford is played with vitality by Lawrence Kao, with an athleticism and bright energy that shines throughout the show. His positivity is balanced by Lee Sellars, memorably playing the dour and intensely coarse Saul; and Kurt Kwan, who brings stoic gravitas and a deep complexity to his role as Wen Chang. Leah Anderson infuses her role as Connie with savvy modernity, and despite limited stage time she leaves a deep impression. This cast has an excellent chemistry, and it's clear that director Desdemona Chiang and assistant director Sun Mee Chomet had a precise vision that is flawlessly executed throughout the cast.

Photo by Dan Norman

The production design is elegantly spare and gorgeous, one of my favorites I've seen in a while. The stage is covered in a retractable scrim panel with a basketball court's lines, which is used to great advantage with shadows, strategic lighting, and some fabulous black and white pictures from Beijing 1989. The projections and photos (masterfully assembled by projection designer Tom Mays) add so much depth to the story and were one of my favorite elements in The Great Leap. The rest of the set design by Sara Ryung Clement is clean and efficient, and I was impressed at the physicality it allowed the cast. The costumes by Helen Huang hit the 1980s to a T, and it was fun to throw back to some of the dated styles we no longer see on street corners. Paul Whitaker's lighting design and Sarah Pickett's sound design are efficient and seamless, and combined with the rest of the production design we get a full-fledged image of The Great Leap's stories with what otherwise would seem very few elements.

Photo by Dan Norman

I'm not much of a basketball fan, but like the better adaptations of sports stories for screen or stage (Remember the Titans or Miracle come to mind) I found myself fully engaged and immersed in The Great Leap from the first minute the scrim screens drew. It's a tautly written piece and provides so much context about events I know embarrassingly little about; the context surrounding the Tiananmen Square massacre was particularly mind expanding. Through Manford's journey we are able to engage with that hidden history with a complexity and empathy that we do not normally afford to stories about communist countries, particularly as Americans. I thoroughly enjoyed The Great Leap and would recommend it to audiences of any stripe; it's suspenseful, inspiring, heartbreaking and nuanced at a level that you don't always get to see. I'm always a seeker of good writing in any form I can find it, and Lauren Yee's script here is not to be missed. Make sure to click here to get your tickets or more information about the show before it closes on February 10; you'll definitely want to see this one. 

Photo by Dan Norman

I'm Addicted to Theater Mu's Latest Show

When is the last time you saw a show authored by a local playwright? 

Photo courtesy of Theater Mu

How about a local female playwright?

How about a local Hmong female playwright?

I'm with you - Theater Mu's latest world premiere was a first for me too, and if the fun production I saw is any indication, I need to seek out more of May Lee-Yang's work ASAP.

Friday saw the world premiere of The Korean Drama Addict's Guide to Losing Your Virginity (KDAGLYV), a new work commissioned by Theater Mu. It was exactly what I needed to see that night and has all of the hallmarks of my favorite romantic comedies: it's witty, wry, wise, and totally charming.

Photo by Rich Ryan

KDAGLYV tells the story of Gao Hlee, an almost-30 year old personality coach who dreams of finding her partner and starting a family; the problem is that between her workaholism and addiction to Korean dramas, she has almost no time to actually date anyone, and the prospects seem limited. Once Gao begins working for Benedict, a wealthy CEO of a Korean company recently transplanted to Minnesota to build his family's business in the Midwest, everything changes. Gao's blunt
American style captivates Benedict, who undergoes a radical change from his frigid traditional persona. Benedict's right hand man, Secretary Kim, finds a true community in the U.S. and is liberated from the strict role he acquired in Korea, thanks to Gao's best friend Z. Gao's mother illuminates the life of a Hmong immigrant in the U.S.; Benedict's mother Madame Song gets the ultimate ghostly comeuppance (I can't say more, you have to see it to understand - but it's awesome); and Gao's cousin Tou Mong is left alone in his cause for Hmong men's rights.

Photo by Rich Ryan

There's so much more happening in KDAGLYV than that speedy overview can share, but suffice it to say: this show is just so fun! I don't know enough about Hmong life or the life of Asian Americans in Minnesota, and I learned so much from the dialogue between these characters. I'm just beginning to venture into the world of Korean dramas, and the cameos from various Korean drama shows throughout the play were hilarious and really helped lighten the mood. There's some magical realism thanks to the presence of strategic ghosts, and overall I found KDAGLYV to be a totally fresh, unique story that had me invested from the very beginning.

Photo by Rich Ryan

Part of my enjoyment was from the terrific young cast, almost all of whom are totally new-to-me actors. Dexieng Yang is wonderful as Gao Hlee, with a bubbly yet direct quality that reminds me of Reese Witherspoon's demeanor. Brian Kim leads Benedict's character through a radical transition with ease, and he and Yang have just the right kind of chaste chemistry this story needs (and he sings a wicked karaoke number). Clay Man Soo is utterly charming as Secretary Kim, and his youthful naivete is a great foil to Khadija Siddiqui's tough demeanor as the no-bullshit Z. Katie Bradley is delightfully evil as Benedict's exacting mother Madame Song, and Phasoua Vang has a warm, direct delivery as Gao's mother that reminds me of many other real-life immigrant mothers I know.

Photo by Rich Ryan

Like many of my favorite sets from Theater Mu, this one is simple but has clever blocking that always tells you where you're at and provides occasional surprises. Most of the scenic design, by Sarah Brandner, involves different sized boxes arranged to indicate cars, a bar, or office furnishings. Simple but evocative props (by Abbee Warmboe) like steering wheel give us all we need to follow the action. Samantha Fromm Haddow's costume design is classy and colorful, with each character looking sharply dressed throughout. And the lighting and sound design (by Karin Olson and Matthew Vichlach, respectively) provides just enough magic for us to be entranced by Gao and Benedict's unlikely love story.

Photo by Rich Ryan

The Korean Drama Addict's Guide to Losing Your Virginity is just the kind of fresh, interesting new stories that I love to see on stage (and that Theater Mu does so well). It's once again proof that not everything needs to have a giant budget and shiny accouterments to be worthy of watching. Like any brand-new work there are some kinks here, but I wholeheartedly enjoyed myself, and I'm so glad that KDAGLYV exists. May Lee-Yang is an exciting new voice in the playwright world, and I can't wait to see what she dreams up next. In the meantime, I'd love for Netflix to pick up this script and bring it as a serialized show to televisions everywhere - I'd binge the heck out of it. Please stop by Park Square Theatre to see this delicious new play before it closes on August 19; click here for more information or to buy tickets.