Of all the things we have seen recently I enjoyed this the most even though the reviews were not particularly enthusiastic.
Chinglish is obviously a mash-up of Chinese and English, and in this story about an Ohio businessman attempting to do business in China, misunderstanding is the point. Much of the play is in Mandarin. All but the Ohio businessman spoke Chinese. Throughout the play dialogue is mistranslated in surtitles to hilarious effect. There were those who felt it a one joke play and superficial. I thought it marvelous and with a little significance to it. The cast is fine especially the woman who plays the assistant to the Minister of Culture in our imaginary province. But really, they were all really fine.
The author David Henry Hwang also wrote the very popular M. Butterfly several years ago and has an enduring concern with intercultural issue.
Highly recommended.
Chinglish is obviously a mash-up of Chinese and English, and in this story about an Ohio businessman attempting to do business in China, misunderstanding is the point. Much of the play is in Mandarin. All but the Ohio businessman spoke Chinese. Throughout the play dialogue is mistranslated in surtitles to hilarious effect. There were those who felt it a one joke play and superficial. I thought it marvelous and with a little significance to it. The cast is fine especially the woman who plays the assistant to the Minister of Culture in our imaginary province. But really, they were all really fine.
The author David Henry Hwang also wrote the very popular M. Butterfly several years ago and has an enduring concern with intercultural issue.
Highly recommended.
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