New writer Amy Ng’s play at the Kiln is rich and engrossing…
THIS is a powerful production which tells us the story of two women from Chinese history, Sun Weishi (1921 -1968), also called Li Lin and Lan Ping /Jiang Qing (1914-1991), who later became Madame Mao.
The show begins in 1935 Shanghai, when Li Lin (Millicent Wong) and Lan Ping (Gabby Wong) first meet at an audition to play Nora, the character from the Ibsen play, ‘A Doll’s House’.
Li Lin is 14 years old and younger; she comes across as a bit timid and is merely at the venue to hide from the tumult outside, so Lan Ping 21, asks her to help with her audition.
Ping takes Lin under her wing and for a while they become close.
Big political events impact their friendship and it appears that Ping is more ambitious for herself.
It uses the premise of the Ibsen play ‘A Doll’s House’ and you wonder if the women are chattels of powerful men?
Or are they strong personalities in their own right who have to disguise themselves in order to survive?
The two women are initially mouthpieces for different political thoughts.
Lin (Weishi) is the adopted daughter of Zhou Enlai – the Premier who served under Mao and is known as Papa Joe in the story.
Meanwhile, Qing attaches herself to powerful men to get ahead, until she finally becomes Mao’s fourth wife and later a key figure in the Cultural Revolution.
The women also discuss the meaning of their chosen and given names which is why we have used their dual names here.
We don’t know what drove Sun Weishi to become a director and why her friend Qing betrayed her, despite them having a sisterly pact to stay together.
Why did Qing also contribute to destroy artistic freedom by her role in the Cultural Revolution?
Was it because she was silenced by the men or rejected by her friend?
‘Shanghai Dolls’ is a fantastic production, engrossing from the outset, with great design by Jean Chan to complement the big picture story the writer is telling.
The stage is bare with three sets of doors which open and are in green /blue shades.
There is video projection designed by Akhila Krishnan, which displays newspaper and moving archive to contextualise Chinese history through news headlines and which begin in 1935 Shanghai with the audition and ends with an epilogue in 1991 with footage of Madame Mao’s trial.
The lighting aesthetic by Aideen Malone is in vivid shades, ending in a red cloud burst while the composition and sound design is by Nicola T Chang.
The 80-minute drama without an interval packs a lot and we are on a roll.
It’s a linear drama and speeds along and www.asianculturevulture.com enjoyed it.
Directed by Katie Posner, the show is a co-production between Kiln Theatre and Paines Plough Theatre Company which celebrates its 50th birthday this year.
This is engrossing, enjoyable, and educative.
ACV rating: **** (out of five)
All pictures: Marc Brenner
Listing
‘Shanghai Dolls’ by Amy Ng until May 10 at The Kiln, 69 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR
https://kilntheatre.com/whats-on/shanghai-dolls/
