The magic of theatre plays a lead in Berkeley Rep’s world premiere production, Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West by Naomi Iizuka. Its success is brought about mostly by the typical of Les Waters energetic and engaging directing; good solid acting; laconic yet expressive stage and video design (Mimi Lien and Leah Gelpe) and intricate costuming (Annie Smart) that includes fake whole body tattoos. All of the above compensate for vaguely outlined characters and underdeveloped plot line. Resembling the subject matter of the play – turn of the century hand-colored Yokohama photographs, known to be representative of non-existent highly stereotypical “old Japan” – the situations and dialogs are rather sketchy, built to express straightforward notions – and enhanced with speculative details. The 95-minute show holds audience’s attention throughout as perhaps a photo album of exotic century-old prints would, but the prevailing feeling is that of a never found connectivity between the characters supposedly symbolizing cross-pollination of two civilizations. A team of five talented actors (Kate Eastwood Norris, Johnny Wu, Bruce McKenzie, Teresa Avia Lim, and Danny Wolohan) represents all the seemingly right ingredients for a flavorful stage dish – patronizingly-compassionate, inherently-superior American tourists either enamored or appalled by the beautiful or barbaric exotic culture; escapist Westerners leaving for the East; “destination” hustlers, living off the tourists’ starry-eyed fascinations and/or sexual frustrations; and emerging Easterners with round eyes and English-sounding last names. However, the resulting stew of undercooked cultural morsels tastes like a Kipling’s rather outdated statement on East and West that “never… shall meet.” Not in these shallow waters. The show runs through April 11. Docent presentations take place one hour before Tue and Thur 8 pm performances. Post-show discussions on March 18, 23, and April 2. Free tastings of wine, beer, chocolate, champagne, vodka, organic produce – before select Fri, Sat 8 pm, and Sun 7 pm performances. Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. Tickets and info: 510-647-2949 or berkeleyrep.org. Image: Kate Eastwood Norris, Bruce McKenzie and Johnny Wu star in the world premiere of a sexy and intriguing new show: Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West at Berkeley Rep. Photo courtesy of kevinberne.com
East is East and West is West in Berkeley Rep’s Strange Devices
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By Emma Krasov
The magic of theatre plays a lead in Berkeley Rep’s world premiere production, Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West by Naomi Iizuka. Its success is brought about mostly by the typical of Les Waters energetic and engaging directing; good solid acting; laconic yet expressive stage and video design (Mimi Lien and Leah Gelpe) and intricate costuming (Annie Smart) that includes fake whole body tattoos. All of the above compensate for vaguely outlined characters and underdeveloped plot line. Resembling the subject matter of the play – turn of the century hand-colored Yokohama photographs, known to be representative of non-existent highly stereotypical “old Japan” – the situations and dialogs are rather sketchy, built to express straightforward notions – and enhanced with speculative details. The 95-minute show holds audience’s attention throughout as perhaps a photo album of exotic century-old prints would, but the prevailing feeling is that of a never found connectivity between the characters supposedly symbolizing cross-pollination of two civilizations. A team of five talented actors (Kate Eastwood Norris, Johnny Wu, Bruce McKenzie, Teresa Avia Lim, and Danny Wolohan) represents all the seemingly right ingredients for a flavorful stage dish – patronizingly-compassionate, inherently-superior American tourists either enamored or appalled by the beautiful or barbaric exotic culture; escapist Westerners leaving for the East; “destination” hustlers, living off the tourists’ starry-eyed fascinations and/or sexual frustrations; and emerging Easterners with round eyes and English-sounding last names. However, the resulting stew of undercooked cultural morsels tastes like a Kipling’s rather outdated statement on East and West that “never… shall meet.” Not in these shallow waters. The show runs through April 11. Docent presentations take place one hour before Tue and Thur 8 pm performances. Post-show discussions on March 18, 23, and April 2. Free tastings of wine, beer, chocolate, champagne, vodka, organic produce – before select Fri, Sat 8 pm, and Sun 7 pm performances. Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. Tickets and info: 510-647-2949 or berkeleyrep.org. Image: Kate Eastwood Norris, Bruce McKenzie and Johnny Wu star in the world premiere of a sexy and intriguing new show: Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West at Berkeley Rep. Photo courtesy of kevinberne.com
The magic of theatre plays a lead in Berkeley Rep’s world premiere production, Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West by Naomi Iizuka. Its success is brought about mostly by the typical of Les Waters energetic and engaging directing; good solid acting; laconic yet expressive stage and video design (Mimi Lien and Leah Gelpe) and intricate costuming (Annie Smart) that includes fake whole body tattoos. All of the above compensate for vaguely outlined characters and underdeveloped plot line. Resembling the subject matter of the play – turn of the century hand-colored Yokohama photographs, known to be representative of non-existent highly stereotypical “old Japan” – the situations and dialogs are rather sketchy, built to express straightforward notions – and enhanced with speculative details. The 95-minute show holds audience’s attention throughout as perhaps a photo album of exotic century-old prints would, but the prevailing feeling is that of a never found connectivity between the characters supposedly symbolizing cross-pollination of two civilizations. A team of five talented actors (Kate Eastwood Norris, Johnny Wu, Bruce McKenzie, Teresa Avia Lim, and Danny Wolohan) represents all the seemingly right ingredients for a flavorful stage dish – patronizingly-compassionate, inherently-superior American tourists either enamored or appalled by the beautiful or barbaric exotic culture; escapist Westerners leaving for the East; “destination” hustlers, living off the tourists’ starry-eyed fascinations and/or sexual frustrations; and emerging Easterners with round eyes and English-sounding last names. However, the resulting stew of undercooked cultural morsels tastes like a Kipling’s rather outdated statement on East and West that “never… shall meet.” Not in these shallow waters. The show runs through April 11. Docent presentations take place one hour before Tue and Thur 8 pm performances. Post-show discussions on March 18, 23, and April 2. Free tastings of wine, beer, chocolate, champagne, vodka, organic produce – before select Fri, Sat 8 pm, and Sun 7 pm performances. Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. Tickets and info: 510-647-2949 or berkeleyrep.org. Image: Kate Eastwood Norris, Bruce McKenzie and Johnny Wu star in the world premiere of a sexy and intriguing new show: Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West at Berkeley Rep. Photo courtesy of kevinberne.com
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