What I liked
… how Meg uses accent and facial expressions to convey far more than what the words of the one-woman monologue spell out. Clever use of language and lighting allows the audience to keep track of the many people in her story, even with minimal use of props…
But more so, how Meg included hard stuff. This show was many years in the making. Looking forward to Part II.
What I didn't like
All of the movement on the stage was within what seemed like 8ft by 8ft. Perhaps this was due to the equipment limits used for the streaming. With wider shots and microphone pickups, perhaps Meg can use a bigger area on stage.
My overall impression
I lived in NYC in the 1980s of Danny Hoch’s “Jails, Hospitals and Hip Hop”, and worked in the Bronx (albeit 30 years after) the setting of Chazz Palminteri’s “A Bronx Tale”. So, I had some connection to these autobiographical one-man shows. What would I get from Meg Lin’s one-woman “Who am I, Chopped Suey?” show? I got a lot… and I suspect you will, too.
She shares her Chinese-American upbringing, which if you are not an immigrant, you will get the hyphen American part. If you do have an immigrant family experience, even if not Chinese, you WILL get the Chinese parts of her story, because so much of the “American Dream” is actually quite scary for almost all immigrant families. I went to the “world premiere” show this past weekend with a group of immigrant parents from Mexico and El Salvador. (It’s my fault the show started late, BTW.) They shared many of the same trials and tribulations, just with a different seasoning, because (spoiler alert)
mental illness in the family, troubles with the law, questioned self identity, struggles with mother, seeking acceptance, sometimes gained in the wrong way… we all have a version of these. Travel as an unaccompanied minor: I was sent to Mexico every year of my childhood, almost always alone, via 30 hour bus rides, or stuffed in the back of somebody’s van.
I think that most of the world part of the “world premiere” refers to the Internet streaming. Are you surprised that there were technical glitches? I am sure these will be addressed for next week’s performance. But do your self a favor and come in-person (fully vaccinated, of course). Because of the super small venue, you will be up close and will better see and hear how Meg uses accent and facial expressions to convey far more than what the words of the one-woman monologue spell out. Clever use of language and lighting allows the audience to keep track of the many people in her story, even with minimal use of props, and the sparse stage setting of only a chair and hope chest.
Meg Lin serves up a very specific recipe for chop suey. What ever comfort food is for you, you’ll want some of this.
