A Broadway play that is spoken in Mandarin? How will one understand? Even though David Henry Hwang’s Ch’ing-lish is partially spoken in Mandarin, the play is still easy to understand and to follow along with. David Cavanaugh, played by Gary Wilmes, is a businessman trying to sell his sign-making business in Guiyang, China but comes across many problems along the way. Ch’ing-lish paints a clear picture of the cultural differences that are apparent between Asia and the Western world and how many miscommunications and misunderstandings come with that barrier.
Ch’ing-lish opens with Wilmes presenting a PowerPoint for his company. The opening scene could’ve been better; the audience did not know whether or not the play had started or not. Wilmes was not loud enough and the lighting did not emphasize that the center of attention should’ve been on him. After the dry opening, the play starts off strong, introducing the intricate, moving set to us. David Kornis, in charge of scenic design, did a great job on the set design. Audible gasps were heard from the audience when the set smoothly glided in. Accompanied with the Chinese popular culture music that played as it debuted, this should’ve been the opening number. The music was loud and fast-paced, and woke the audience up from the sleepy introduction.
Jennifer Lim embodies the role of Xi Yan the Vice-Minister with power, giving the audience a strong impression of the role her character will play. Xi, a woman that is strong-willed and independent, was a great character to have. Lim’s forced butchering of the English language and the confusion that came with it was the main source of comic relief. The role of Minister Cai Guoliang, played by Larry Lei Zhang, also added a humorous touch to the play. Zhang portrays Guoliang as an airhead, but yet a proud man.
Lim is the strongest actor in Ch’ing-lish, overpowering the skills of Wilmes and Stephen Pucci, who played the role of Peter the teacher. Pucci’s mandarin was impeccable, giving another surprise to the audience. Pucci is actually quite educated in Mandarin, earning a BA in that language. The character of Peter the teacher served as a connection between the two worlds, but also served as a symbol of the hardships that come along with that role. The language barrier is a running theme in Ch’ing-lish.
Ch’ing-lish is a Broadway play that you should definitely experience. One would never expect a play that spoken in Mandarin to be featured on Broadway, making this a rare opportunity that many should take advantage of. The play features new talent, showcasing the emergence of Asian Americans in the field of theater art. The set is also something that you should see –it is one of genius engineering and visual appeal. Ch’ing-lish is a must-see; you should hurry and experience this fresh change.
