Ensemble Cast of The Orphan of Zhao at A.C.T. Photo by Kevin Berne
The Orphan of Zhao: Chinese Drama adapted by James Fenton. Directed by Carey Perloff. American Conservatory Theatre (A.C.T.), A.C.T.’s Geary Theater, 415 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94108. 415.749.2228 or www.act-sf.org. A co-production with La Jolla Playhouse. June 4-29, 2014
THE ORPHAN OF ZHAO is a stunning production by A.C.T [rating:5]
There are multiple ways for theatre to create a memorable evening. Amongst others there may be superb writing, brilliant acting, thoughtful intellectual stimulation, remarkable staging and inventive direction. All of these qualities are displayed in The Orphan of Zhao that received a standing ovation on opening night. This is quite a feat considering the original play is almost 900 years old. It has had hundreds of productions in China with a 2010 film version titled Sacrifice.
The script used by A.C.T. is James Fenton’s adaptation written for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He uses the device of having the characters break the fourth wall addressing the audience about what is happening and their internal emotions. Since the storyline is convoluted and the character names have Chinese pronunciations that differ from the English spelling these interludes of explanation provide clarity. The action is fortified by original music by Bryon Au Young of Stuck Elevator fame. That music is provided on stage by the ensemble with cello, violin, drum, cymbals, bamboo sticks, clay flutes and even water basins. There is also a ballad singer. It adds an eerie patina to the storyline.
A celebration is being held for the newly finished Crimson Cloud Tower. From that Tower, the drunken Emperor (Paolo Montalban) and his wicked advisor Tu’an Gu (Stan Egi) are indiscriminately shooting arrows into the crowd gathered in the Peach Garden below killing many of them. Zhao Dun (Nick Gabriel) the Emperor’s son-in-law and General Wei Jiang (Orville Mendoza) chastise the Emperor and lose favor with the Court. Wei Jiang and elderly counselor Gongsun Chujiu (Sab Shimono) cannot tolerate such behavior and voluntarily leave the Court going to remote areas. Zhao Dun remains with his pregnant wife the Princess (Maria-France Arcilla).
Tu’an Gu considers Zhao Dun a threat to his future rise to the throne and orders a henchman to kill Zhao. When this act is not carried out, Tu’an Gu’s trained Demon Mastiff (Brian Rivera) to sniffs out Zhao as a traitor. Knowing of his imminent death and the massacre of his entire, Zhao implores his wife to hide the boy child when he is born.
All the local doctors have been executed and a simple country doctor named Cheng Ying (BD Wong) arrives to deliver the baby. The Princess extracts a promise from Cheng to always protect the child . . . the orphan of Zhao, the only living member of his clan. Cheng is able to secret the baby out of the Court but Tu’an Gu knows of Cheng’s trickery and threatens to have every male baby in the country killed if he does not return the Orphan of Zhao.
Cheng’s loyalty and his promise to the Princess force him into a terrible decision to give up his own son as the Orphan of Zhao who is disemboweled. Tu’an Gu arranges to adopt Cheng’s baby and to bring him up in the Court as his adopted son unbeknownst that he is the Orphan of Zhao.
In Act II it is 18 years later and Cheng Bo (Daisuke Tsuji) has been taught the art of herbal medicine from Cheng Ying and the art of War from Tu’an Gu. He is a true Renaissance man. He is appalled during his travels through the country where he witnesses the strong oppressing the weak. When he learns his true identity is ready to make changes. All eventually gets resolved with the loyal being rewarded and evil being punished and bodies strew the stage.
All this is very philosophical but it the fantastic staging, directing and acting that will blow you away. The stylistic acting by the entire cast never misses a beat and the entrance of Cheng Bo is eye-boggling as he scampers over the frame work without missing a line. BD Wong in this homecoming is a total success but he must share accolades with every member of the cast. Special mention of Brian Riveras as the Demon Mastiff, Julyana Soelistyo as Cheng’s wife, Marie-France Arcilla as the Princess, Orville Mendoza as General Wei Jiang, Sab Shimono as the elderly Gongsun Chujiu and Nick Gabriel as Zhao Dun.
Ostling’s set of three level, three sided ‘bamboo platforms’ and huge silk screens that drop from the rafters, some with painted scenes, other stark white that become mountains and a scroll on which to write the history of the action is marvelous. Add to this the intricate fight scenes with bamboo sticks and the glorious music, especially Jessica Ivry on the cello and the evening is complete. This is a must see production.
Running time two hours and 25 minutes with an intermission.
Featuring: Marie France Arcilla; Stan Egi; Philip Estrera; Nick Gabriel; Cindy Im; Orville Mendoza; Brian Rivera; Sab Shimono; Julyana Soelistyo; Paolo Montalban; and BD Wong.
Creative team: scenic designer Daniel Ostling; costume designer Linda Cho; lighting designer Lap Chi Chu; sound designer Jake Rodriguez; original music Byron Au Yong and movement by Stephen Buescher.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatrewoerldinternetmagazine.com
