David Henry Hwang’s Ch’ing-lish incorporates cultural misunderstanding seamlessly into his play. The introduction flashes a couple of signs lost in translation: “Slip and fall carefully.” Slip and fall carefully seems almost ridiculous because telling someone to hurt himself or herself intentionally and be wary afterwards contradicts the previous statement.
As the first scene slid into place, I noticed that the rotating props and setting indirectly represent the transformation of the characters. The rigid blank walls of the office room represented how filtered and clean everyone behaved. Everyone seems so fake and plastered.
Cavanaugh’s corrupt history shatters the audiences’ preconceived notions of the innocent American businessman in a foreign land. Minister Cai Guo Liang, played by Larry Lei Zhang speaks in an agreeable tone. However the audience will discover this as false later on. Xu Yan, albeit coarse and stern, reveals to be supportive of the proposal for replacing the signs under the American signage. Her cold demeanor shatters as she quickly involves herself in an affair with Daniel Cavanaugh.
Leigh Silverman integrated the running theme of duplicity through careful instruction of the acting. Daniel Cavanaugh expresses his innocence and naivete since he cannot comprehend how the Chinese can transform their personalities abruptly.
Due to David Korins the designer, the duplicity carried onto the wardrobe of the actor’s. Xu Yan’s coat and scarf covered her actual outfit, her true identity. Sometimes, both of her behaviors are “true.” But the contrast ranges so wide apart. One side of Xu Yan wishes to please and fulfill her husband’s wishes. Yet on the other hand, she aims to satisfy her own desires. Jennifer Lim’s expression of these two sides albeit intangible slowly begins to define itself. Xu Yan delves into her emotions and gives the audience a full context of her history, background, and what comprises of her belief, which is a lingering faithfulness to her loved ones. Whether her loyalty belongs to Daniel Cavanaugh or Judge Bing, her husband almost seem irrelevant. The ideal of fraudulence finally translates to Daniel and Teacher Peter.
The transforming set and the fluid characters contribute to a central theme of falsity. The robust performance of Jennifer Lim and Gary Wilmes carry the message of the play. Hwang’ s approach to the clashing cultures reflects something larger than the play itself.
