What I liked
The subtitles were subtle and unobtrusive. The onstage musicians served the play with every fiber of their being. No looking around restlessly but absolute stillness with their heads down til their cue to begin playing. And one of the musicians doubled as a torturous Japanese captor, with an effective intensity. The actors were perfection, every nuance, word and emotion calibrated to serve the story, every movement minimally necessary. This is finely tuned and ultimately powerful theatre where everyone understands their part to the whole. Precise, beautiful and quite moving.
What I didn't like
N/A
My overall impression
There is a discipline and precision in Soo’s theatre pieces that makes her shows so wonderful to watch. That being said, this powerful play forces me to look in the mirror and ask which character would represent me in the face of looming tyranny? Would I yield in fear or be defiant (or just sit in front of the TV with a bag of popcorn?) Can I live with myself as a neutral or yielding observer while others are marching, organizing and clenching their fists in resistance? Can I forgive myself for making a safe choice? A play that asks those questions is vitally important!
