WARRIOR THEATER
It’s the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, and one of the best ways to celebrate it is seeing a classic Chinese epic. The Pan Asian Repertory Theatre is presenting Warrior Sisters of Wu, directed by Jeff Liu, a delightful romantic comedy at A.R.T/New York Theatres.
Nancy Ma, Kim Wuan
The play takes place during the tumultuous end-years of China’s Han Dynasty; Lord Qiao (Michael C. Liu) has two fearless daughters, Qing and Wan, who, like a representation of yin and yang, are profoundly different. Kim Wuan plays Qing, the older feisty daughter who believes in women rights and wants to fight in the army next to men; Nancy Ma is Wan, the sweet-tempered, modest daughter who brings harmony everywhere she goes. Their chemistry on stage is perfect, their love for each other credible, and their deft and quick movements as sword-women are fluid and satisfying (choreography by Michael G. Chin).
David Lee Huynh, Kim Wuan
Lord Qiao needs to find suitable husbands for his daughters; they are old enough and he is concerned a war is about to start, they may lose their small kingdom. Two generals are the ideal suitors for the Qiao sisters: Zhou Yu, Wan’s bearing and gentle boyfriend, played by Vin Kridakorn, and Sun Ce, the tougher man, played by David Lee Huynh. Both actors were on point but not as passionate and fluid as Wuan and Ma. It was also the premiere, they have time to polish their roles.
Michael C. Liu, Dinh James Doan
One character that gains our complete attention is Cousin Xie, an obnoxious distant relative played masterfully by Dinh James Doan. He is a combination of a traditional character from a Beijing Opera and a flamboyant, experienced, vaudeville performer, ruling our eyes and ears. He wears a bright orange outfit and a black hat that fit Xie’s peculiarities; each character wears specific colors and they are all fitting; Karen Boyer’s costumes are both imaginative and functional.
Nancy Ma, Michael C. Liu, Kim Wuan
The set, designed by Sheryl Liu, is in an alley configuration, with the audience on two sides. It’s a bit constrained in the small theater but it ends up being whimsical and practical. Green-painted panels for the outdoor scenes easily bring us into a garden or a forest, while a small table with two wooden chairs placed on a stage side, under a big portrait of their deceased mother, reveal the intimacy of the Qiao family. Liu’s vision is helped by lighting designer Poe Saegusa, projections designer Gregory Casparian, and sound designer Da Xu. Warrior Sisters of Wu is a refreshing reminder of what can be done with a minimalistic setting when you have the right lighting, props, sets, and costumes.
David Lee Huynh, Kim Wuan, Nancy Ma, Vin Kridakorn
Two long screens on the top sides of the theater showed projections possibly related to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a 14th-century historical novel by Luo Guanzhong set in 169–280 AD, that was the inspiration for the play. Damon Chua wrote an excellent version of a traditional story, mixing old antics with modern theater, Taoism and Confucianism, making us laugh most of the time, not an easy task when dealing with such a conventional plot. Jeff Liu, the director, also performed miracles bringing together all the elements of an epic in a bare off-Broadway format. The play deserves a long run and, hopefully, a larger theater.
Vin Kridakorn, Kim Wuan, David Lee Huynh, Nancy Ma, Dinh James Doan
photos by Russ Rowland
Kim Wuan
Warrior Sisters of Wu
Pan Asian Repertory Theatre
Mezzanine Theatre at A.R.T/New York, 502 W 53rd St
100 minutes plus one intermission
Tues-Sat at 7; Sat & Sun at 2:30
ends on March 10, 2024
for tickets ($30-$65), visit Pan Asian Rep
