Asian Canadians have Intimate Secrets

Saturday, 06 August 2005

By Joseph Planta

VANCOUVER - Chinese New Year dinner at Kenneth and Jenna's parents's is the setting for the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre's latest production, Sex in Vancouver: Intimate Secrets.

Running to Saturday, 20 August 2005 at the Roundhouse in Yaletown, the third instalment of the Sex in Vancouver series (which debuted in 2003) follows the complicated love lives of young Asians in the Lower Mainland. What's remarkable is that the experiences portrayed are not unique to the locale, nor Asian Canadians. Love and angst seem to know not the differences of race and colour.

The old song says that love is a many splendored-thing. Intimate Secrets shows that there are a lot of exes and O's along the path of love. Exes, as in former loves who reappear to haunt and generally cause a rollercoaster ride of emotion and doubt. And O's, as in orgasms (or the pursuit thereof), which the show doesn't confront head on, rather cleverly hints at with some witty double entendre. And surprise, even when you find that special someone, it ain't all bliss. There'll always be a bit of anger, hope and doubt along the way for good measure.

The young cast play their roles with a stability that imitates the stability their relationships attempt to seek. Sure, there are moments where the cast is obviously uneasy with the portrayal of certain emotions, yet what's expected from the portrayal of love? There's hardly a manual. At least, not for the non-physical kind of love.

The mandate of the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre is not to produce so-called 'ethnic theatre.' Rather it's to use Asian experiences and background-which they do liberally in Intimate Secrets-to hopefully inspire a backdrop whereby all young lovers can find something to relate to or be amused by. The characters and cast are for the most part visibly Asian, and though the ethnicity plays a part in the story and jokes, it does ring through as universal. Vinyl-covered furniture is not solely a phenomenon found in Chinese homes in North America. And getting turned on by making out in your childhood bedroom is all too common.

The young cast do well with a provocative, perceptive and contemporary story. They're a telegenic bunch, and as an ensemble, they are to be complemented for cultivating a chemistry that's clearly palpable. Candice Macalino as Jenna plays off Joann Liu (Tess) well. Liu, as the wacky lesbian, discovering herself and Jenna is lively comic relief. Macalino, who features prominently in this show, has great chemistry with Jonathan Lee (Colin), though it's rendered pregnant as the story separates the characters. Josette Jorge as Elizabeth is bust out loud lively in the first part of the show, but later on is largely muted in her portrayal. In dramatic and tender moments, Jorge is that, dramatic and tender, with a fragility that is incandescent-when she breaks out of her shell in an emotional fit of tears later in the show, she does so with requisite tears underscored by graceful restraint. In that same scene, Zen Shane Lim (Kenneth) is commanding, obviously percolating the anger held by the character. The angry pointing or gesturing with his hand is seemingly just poseur enough. (This generation has gleaned far too much from the music videos of urban America.)

Janet Ip (Shari) and Lucas Walker (George), who return to the same roles, appear comfortable and proficient. Walker is under utilised in this production, as his comic timing and schtick are obviously welcome whenever he appears. As for the new characters introduced in this segment, Mrs. Sheng (Andrea Yu), Mr. Sheng (Edward Fong), and Nathan (Andrew Persoon), they are surprisingly adept. Fong and Yu are convincing in their portrayal of older parents. Persoon is a presence with his portrayal of an inordinately mature pal, but seemingly, turns it up too much, that he sometimes feels out of place with his supposed peers. He redeems himself slightly in a tender scene with Macalino, but only slightly. Nathan's being Caucasian stands out more, curiously enough, than Walker's George.

One needn't have seen the previous productions of Sex in Vancouver to enjoy this third outing, as the storylines are self-contained. References to previous segments are clear enough that nothing is missed. (You needn't have seen the first Star Wars to enjoy the second, or vice-versa.) There is coarse language used, but if then again, if you're going to a show called 'Sex in Vancouver,' a foul word or two is at the very least expected. That there is no actual sex in the show may confound one.

A challenge of this production is the fact that the show is produced in one act. One act lasting over an hour and a half is a bit too much bear without an intermission. In addition, the transition between scenes is occasionally too long, and the audience is forced to sit in the dark a bit longer than necessary.

Comic and actor Tom Chin, directs this version, with Joyce Lam as producer. Chin is humorous and entertaining in his warming up of the crowd prior to curtain. Sex in Vancouver also utilises technology effectively with the use of multimedia in what is essentially a theatrical production. Technology's use in this production is perhaps to draw those not theatrically inclined, and it's rather effective for those reared exclusively on television or film.

***

Sex in Vancouver: Intimate Secrets directed by Tom Chin, produced by Joyce Lam, and written by Kathy Hsieh, stars Edward Fong, Janet Ip, Josette Jorge, Jonathan Lee, Zen Shane Lim, Joann Liu, Candice Macalino, Andrew Persoon, Lucas Walker, and Andrea Yu, at the Roundhouse Performance Centre (Davie and Pacific Boulevard), August 5 and 6, 10-13, and 17-30 at 8.00 pm. Tickets are available through the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre's website: http://www.vact.ca, or at the door. Prices are $22 in advance, and $25 at the door.

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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE.