Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA
through August 11, 2018
by Rebecca Phelps
 |
| Photo by Eloy Garcia |
In 1834, the first female Chinese immigrant, 14-year-old Afong Moy, was sold
by her father to the Carne brothers, American traders in Chinese goods, in
order to “perform” on Broadway for the public for 25 cents a head. Here, in her
room, she walks (teeters) on her 4 inch long bound feet, eats with chopsticks
and recites in Chinese. She doesn’t understand English and her audiences don’t
understand Chinese. She is purely an exotic object to be gawked at in the same
manner that “Siamese twins,” or contortionists were displayed at sideshows, by people
like P.T. Barnum, who eventually brought Afong Moy into his shows. Lloyd Suh’s
play, telling Afong Moy’s true story, was commissioned by Ma-Yi Theater Company
and is performed at the BSC’s smaller St. Germain Stage, a perfect venue for
this intimate, two person production.
In addition to Afung Moy, wonderfully played by Shannon Tyo,
the other character in the show is Atung, her translator, played by Daniel K.
Isaac. Atung is the funny, sometimes ironic counter weight to Afong Moy’s sweet
sincerity. Sadly, Mr. Isaac displays the bowing, nodding and smiling that are
so familiar as mischaracterizations of Asian immigrants.
Afong’s encounter with President Andrew Jackson provides us
with a window into the discrepancy between what is actually being said, and how
Atung chooses to translate the conversation. Through Suh’s brilliant
contrivance, we understand both the original Chinese words (spoken in English)
and Atung’s translation to the President. Afong’s sophisticated, nuanced
Chinese response is reduced to simplistic, pidgin English. Given our current
delicate international negotiations this scene becomes all the more relevant
and timely! A shocking moment of Jackson’s startling lack of sensitivity is illustrated when he asks to see and feel Afong’s bound feet, considered to be an intimate
and deeply private part of a Chinese woman’s body.
As the story progresses, Afong Moy (and the audience)
becomes more and more aware of and incensed by, the waves of Chinese immigrants
to this country throughout the 19th century, and how they were excluded from
becoming citizens even as they were building the railroads; a history that is
not generally well known or taught in school.
This play takes place in one room, Atong’s home from age 14
on into her 70’s. The atmospheric music, costuming, lighting, and use of one
huge curtain provide us with the sense of time passing. It is a fascinating
piece of theater and history, beautifully and bravely told.
