Examine, Enjoy and Empathize

The Chinese Lady – TimeLine Theatre

Imagine what it was like for a young, innocent, Chinese girl to be sold by her parents to a pair of American merchants, and then brought to America to be put on exhibit in a museum. Most of us would agree that this experience is simply incomprehensible, but Lloyd Suh’s remarkable one-act, brilliantly directed by Helen Young, is a theatrical experience that’s based upon an historical truth. It allows audiences to learn about and empathize with this sadly exploited young woman. 

Young Afong Moy is advertised in New York City as “The Chinese Lady.” She is, perhaps, the very first Asian individual that Americans will have ever seen in 1834. But Miss Moy is not a “lady,” but actually a naive, adolescent girl. Audiences could buy tickets to come ogle, examine and enjoy this exotic teenager from the mysterious Orient. Marketed as a curiosity, the crowd would watch her brew and drink tea, eat authentic Chinese food with chopsticks, walk around upon her tiny, bound feet, and explain about the wonders of China, through her cynical male interpreter. Atung, with whom she often banters and argues, is her only Chinese companion. Afong Moy was brought to America as a 14-year-old girl, originally intended to be on display for just two years; but that deal became extended for decades, with Afong Moy eventually being sold to P.T. Barnum for his exhibition. Eventually she even toured the country and met with President Andrew Jackson.

In the first scenes of the play, the young girl is exuberant, ecstatic to be seen by her audience. She’s so enthusiastic about sharing her thoughts and teaching us all about her culture that her excited banter is humorous. But underneath her information and small talk is an air of pain and sadness from being simply considered an object. In addition, Afong Moy hasn’t seen or heard from her family since she left her village in China. However, Afong Moy is excited to learn about American civilization and culture, and can’t wait to visit glamorous big cities, like Washington D.C., Baltimore and Pittsburg. She’s sweetly childlike in her innocence of the world’s cruelty and in her belief that she’s doing great work as an ambassador from China. By the end of the play, after experiencing America as it really is, Afong Moy has lost her optimism and is seeing this country with clearer eyes.

With her naivete diminished by years of witnessing the history of hatred in this country, Afong Moy speaks about America’s horrid treatment of Native Americans, the abominable slave trade and the greedy Manifest Destiny. She recounts how Chinese men were horribly treated as they built the Transcontinental Railroad, the acts of brutality and terror inflicted upon Chinese-Americans searching for gold or just trying to live the American Dream. What especially comes to mind to contemporary audiences are the bigoted words of a past President, who made an entire country scapegoats by calling the Covid-19 pandemic “the Chinese virus.” This attitude ignited a new era of reprehensible threats and verbal and physical attacks upon Asian-Americans. But Afong Moy leaves her audience in the present, soothing with words of wisdom and learning to ponder, as we leave the theater.

Both actors in this two-hander are making their auspicious TimeLine debuts with this show. Mi Kang, a talented MFA student at Northwestern, is simply amazing as Afong Moy. She is funny, heartbreaking and astoundingly profound. This brilliant actress begins the play as an exuberant young girl, but through the 90-minute production her character ages, simply through subtle vocal and physical technique and changes in wardrobe. By the end of the play, Ms Kang eventually becomes an 82-year-old woman, and we marvel at her emotional journey. Glenn Obrero, who’s been enjoyed on several Chicago stages, is wonderful as Atung. His deadpan delivery and impish reactions to Afong Moy’s words and thoughts drive the comedy of the piece. Also, as the play progresses, so do Atung’s feelings toward his co-worker. Obrero, too, is a delight to behold.

This is a must-see production, a fine finale to TimeLine Theatre Company’s impressive 25th season. Staged with sensitivity, wit and empathy by Director Helen Young, Lloyd Suh’s drama is elegant and eye-opening. The story plays beautifully upon Arnel Sancianco’s exquisite scenic design, filled with artifacts and adorned by simple, Asian-inspired furniture. It’s lit with brilliance by John Culbert and costumed with glorious splendor and delicate, accurate detail by Izumi Inaba, In all, this is a jewel of an experience, a moment in history that resonates today, and an event not to be missed.  

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented May 8-June 18 by TimeLine Theatre Company at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 773-281-8463 x6, or by going to www.timelinetheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.