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| EAST MEETS WEST: (left to right) Stephen Pucci, Gary Wilmes, Angela Lin, and Larry Lei Zhang in ‘Chinglish.’ Photo: Michael McCabe |
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Theater
Review
Chinglish: language barrier mined for laughs
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By David NouNou
Handsomely mounted and deftly directed by Leigh Silverman, David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish is one of those enigmatic plays that can combine comedy and serious matters in proper doses and we can still learn a thing or two about the clash of cultures.
Set in the present in the city of Guiyang, China, Daniel Cavanaugh (Gary Wilmes) has come from Cleveland, Ohio to help his ailing signage company resuscitate itself by selling this Chinese province signs for its new cultural center. In order to sell his product, he is being tutored by Peter Timms (Stephen Pucci) on the proper Chinese business diplomacy and protocol. He has to make his pitch to the minister of the province Cai Guoliang (Larry Lei Zhang) and his aid the vice minister Xi Yan, played by the lovely Jennifer Lim.
Meetings appear to be going well but there have to be twists and turns. The fun is in the translations; not just mere translating but when the word or phrase is translated in the literal sense. Since a huge portion of the dialogue is in Mandarin, the translations are projected on a wall, and more often than not they take on a different meaning from the one intended. It would not be fair to cite any of them out of context since that would take away from the fun.
Amidst the chaos that ensues, playwright David Henry Hwang, best known for the brilliant M. Butterfly, here again strikes a chord in the interpersonal relationship of the two protagonists, Daniel and Xi. Although both married, they do form a relationship based on love by the West and commerce by the East. One does what one has to do to obtain an end.
Leigh Silverman keeps things moving at a brisk pace, as do the beautiful sets provided by scenic designer David Korins. The evening really belongs to Daniel and Xi. Jennifer Lim is beautiful and hits the proper notes to her complex character. She is simultaneously both hard and charming. However, Mr. Wilmes lacks the presence that should make his Daniel both clumsy and charismatic. His portrayal is tantamount to just getting through with the performance, thus creating a huge lack of tension between the two involved parties.
Published November 3, 2011
Reviewed at press performance on November 2, 2011
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| EAST MEETS WEST: (left to right) Jennifer Lim and Gary Wilmes in David Henry Hwang's 'Chinglish.' Photo: Michael McCabe |
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CHINGLISH
A delicate comedy masterminded by David Henry Hwang, who earlier gave us the brilliant M. Butterfly. Here again he gives us a clash of culture; this time in the business world: Making English signs for the Chinese province of Guiyang and having them have exact translations in Chinese words. Daniel Cavanaugh (Gary Wilmes) has come from Cleveland, Ohio to help his ailing signage company resuscitate itself by selling this Chinese province signs for its new cultural center.
Amidst the chaos that ensues, Hwang, here again strikes a chord in the interpersonal relationship of the two protagonists, Daniel and Xi (Jennifer Lim). Although both married, they do form a relationship based on love by the West and commerce by the East. One does what one has to do to obtain an end.
Director Leigh Silverman keeps things moving at a brisk pace, as do the beautiful sets provided by David Korins. Jennifer Lim is beautiful and hits the proper notes to her complex character. She is simultaneously both hard and charming. However, Mr. Wilmes lacks the presence that should make his Daniel both clumsy and charming. It is a pity because a stronger and more charismatic leading man was needed.
LONGACRE THEATRE, 220 West 48th Street, (212-239-6200).
www.Chinglishbroadway.com
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