Red dragon
by
Michael Dresdner
It must
have felt like going out on a limb for Tacoma Little Theatre to tackle the
daunting but superbly written play The Joy Luck Club, based on the deservedly
best-selling book by Amy Tan. If so, it was a gamble that paid off handsomely,
for the result is astonishingly good and very moving theatre.
The
story revolves around four women who formed a mahjong club shortly after
emigrating from China to San Francisco, and the complex and often troubled
relationships they share with their American born (and Americanized) daughters.
Beyond a mere club, the mahjong game reflects both the glue that binds the
women and a framework for their life lessons.
Breaking
the fourth wall, both generations of women tell a series of captivating stories
directly to the audience. The histories and scenes they describe are cleverly amplified
by other actors in small vignettes, or as crisp silhouettes we see moving across
a back-lit scrim as they narrate.
Through
the mothers’ and daughters’ tales we learn of their often painful pasts, the
varied and sometimes convoluted routes that brought the mothers to America, and
how their history shaped both who they are and how each generation relates to
the other. Thanks to cultural differences in their styles of communication,
there is often misunderstanding. The older women expect their daughters to
correctly infer their feelings and lessons from what, to the daughters raised
around American straightforwardness, often seems a confusing and contradictory
set of cryptic signals.
The
stories go back three generations and are told in fits rather than with linear
continuity. It may seem a bit disjointed at first, but by the end, all the
story threads come together to reveal a tightly knit tapestry of history that
spans over 80 years, linking two countries and four extended families.
Ultimately, the younger generation comes to understand both where they fit as
Americans, and how deeply they are still tied to their Chinese roots.
A large
and universally excellent ensemble cast plays over 100 different roles in this
intricate exercise in compelling storytelling. It would be folly to try and
call out each for the myriad of excellent performances they turned in, so I’ll
just say they all deserve serious accolades. Admittedly, I was particularly
taken with Leilani Berinobis’ Lindo, Ruth Yeo’s Waverly, and all the American
boyfriends played by Dan Theyer, but believe me, they were just a few high
spots in a very elevated playing field.
Behind
the fine acting was brilliant direction by David Hsieh, who crafted a varied
and visually compelling tableau from a series of intricate narrations. With
spot-on pacing and blocking, he grippingly illuminated the pain, confusion, and
joy that the stories revealed.
All this
took place across a visually stunning and rather clever multi-level set
designed by Burton K. Yuen. It was made up of both horizontally and vertically
placed gigantic mahjong tiles that acted as walls, doors, and seating areas
bordering the aforementioned scrim, which was trimmed out to look like an
Asian-style screen.
With so
many stories portrayed by so many actors, there was a seemingly endless parade
of superb costumes by Michele Graves, and an equally dizzying array of lighting
effects beautifully designed by Niclas R. Olson. In short, it was an
outstanding cast led by a terrific director and backed up by an inspired
support crew.
Both as
a cultural stretch and as first-rate theatre, The Joy Luck Club should not be
missed. This is a rara avis even among the many fine theatre offerings in this
area. Do yourself a favor and make time to see this outstanding production,
which truly is a joy to behold.
The Joy
Luck Club
March 15
to April 7, 2013
Tacoma
Little Theatre
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