Monday, September 25, 2006
The Trouble with Asian Men
(review from The Stage, Sep 06)
That researchers rather than writers are credited with this interesting short piece is due to the fact that the verbatim technique is employed, in which actors perform exactly what they hear through their earphones - interviews recorded on minidisc by researchers - and reproduced by the actors.
It is a style well suited to the subject matter and admirably played by the actors, though Jo Harper, standing in for Louise Wallinger, who actually introduced the technique to the company, has a small voice even for an intimate space such as the Arts Depot’s studio.
The episodes related by the actors are quite fascinating, covering attitudes from all sides, parents, children and outsiders such as the English girl who has married an Asian man. And what is remarkable are the similarities with the attitudes of earlier immigrants, for instance the Jews.
Like them, Asians usually have a strong family structure, with traditionally minded parents at some odds with their offspring, the former anxious to maintain the traditional lifestyle, including arranged marriages, the latter eager to sample the more free delights of British life.
Though tensions inevitably arise, there is a general air of good humour, an acceptance that these people are ready and able to take advantage of the opportunities to improve their lot, even if the men find it difficult to give up some of their privileges.
It certainly owes a good deal to the actors, who respond eagerly to the unusual mechanism of the piece, with Ajay Chhabra, Divian Ladwa and Sonia Likhari illustrating a wide variety of relationships and making it evident that the majority of Asians will succeed because of their energy, while retaining their own identity.
(review from The Stage, Sep 06)
That researchers rather than writers are credited with this interesting short piece is due to the fact that the verbatim technique is employed, in which actors perform exactly what they hear through their earphones - interviews recorded on minidisc by researchers - and reproduced by the actors.
It is a style well suited to the subject matter and admirably played by the actors, though Jo Harper, standing in for Louise Wallinger, who actually introduced the technique to the company, has a small voice even for an intimate space such as the Arts Depot’s studio.
The episodes related by the actors are quite fascinating, covering attitudes from all sides, parents, children and outsiders such as the English girl who has married an Asian man. And what is remarkable are the similarities with the attitudes of earlier immigrants, for instance the Jews.
Like them, Asians usually have a strong family structure, with traditionally minded parents at some odds with their offspring, the former anxious to maintain the traditional lifestyle, including arranged marriages, the latter eager to sample the more free delights of British life.
Though tensions inevitably arise, there is a general air of good humour, an acceptance that these people are ready and able to take advantage of the opportunities to improve their lot, even if the men find it difficult to give up some of their privileges.
It certainly owes a good deal to the actors, who respond eagerly to the unusual mechanism of the piece, with Ajay Chhabra, Divian Ladwa and Sonia Likhari illustrating a wide variety of relationships and making it evident that the majority of Asians will succeed because of their energy, while retaining their own identity.
# posted by ot @ 1:59 pm 
