Chinglish
by David Henry Hwang
Park200, Park Theatre
Wednesday 22nd March – Saturday 22nd April 2017
“Hwang’s hilarious comedy about the misadventures of miscommunication explores the modern difficulty of doing business between East and West. Daniel, an American, wants to open up China for his business. There are only three things standing in his way: he can’t speak the language, he can’t learn the customs, and he’s falling in love with the one woman he can’t have”.
Review by Richard Lambert, 4 Stars
The script is just hilarious! Brilliantly funny with a story to match. An exposé on how the Chinese perceive Westerners and their business practices and how they themselves behave in business. With a reflection of Chinese attitudes to marriage and their own lives sprinkled on. David Henry Hwang is a genius.
With a strong team to back up this production the star being the Set Design – 30 cubes that roll, swing, move and reveal beds, lecturns, windows, freezes, Lucky fortune Chinese Cats (Maneki Nekos). Tim McQuillen-Wright has designed and constructed an animated set that’s put to full use! The motorised projection screen dipping in to help with some of the translations – often incorrect interpretations of what was said – all to great effect.
Lighting designer Christopher Nairne has added a chorus of 30 Source Four Spots to individually illuminate each cube face allowing chase effects to match the musical underscore from Sound Designer James Nicholson. Christopher’s naturalistic design, never easy in a thrust stage such as the Park200 hits the balance between illumination, dimension and zoning to gently guide us to the action. Every Cue and look carefully considered.
Chinglish delivers a fast paced evening of humourous insightful entertainment.
Chinglish Production Photos Credit: The Other Richard
Performance Dates Wednesday 22nd March – Saturday 22nd April 2017
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday and Saturday matinees 3pm
Running time 2 hours 10 minutes (including interval)
Twitter @parktheatre, @ChinglishUK
Writer David Henry Hwang
Director Andrew Keates
Designer Tim McQuillen-Wright
Lighting Designer Christopher Nairne
Sound Designer James Nicholson
Casting Director Annie Rowe
Producer Tim Johanson Productions, in association with Julie Clare Productions, Arion Productions and Park Theatre
Location Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP
www.parktheatre.co.uk
How to get there Park Theatre is a 4 minute walk from Finsbury Park station (Station Place exit), on the Victoria and Piccadilly lines. Please note that the Wells Terrace exit from Finsbury Park Station is now closed for the foreseeable future. To reach the theatre you will need to come out of the Station Place exit, turn left under the bridge on Stroud Green Road, then take the second left into Morris Place. Park Theatre is at the end of Morris Place.
Box Office Tickets are available for £18 – £29.50 from the Park Theatre Box Office and www.parktheatre.co.uk, 020 7870 6876