Theatre Review: Twisting Fortunes is just like "real dating"
- same challenges with dating Asians or Caucasians too!


Twisting Fortunes
February 6, 7, 8, 9,
8pm
Playwrights Theatre Centre (1398 Cartwright Street)
on Granville Island.
Tickets $10 at the door.

Whether or not you have dated an Asian or a Caucasian, you will relate to this play.  Playwrights Grace Chin and Charlie Cho, have created a witty and sharply funny play about dating (or non-dating) in Vancouver's cyber-café culture.  Filled with hip pop culture references that clash with traditional dating expectations, Twisting Fortunes explores the netherland of dating culture's "do's and don'ts" while adding an inter-cultural spice with references and comparisons to dating Asians and non-Asians. 

Gee... just like real life!  At least from an Asian-Canadian perspective...  Growing up As-Can (that's Asian-Canadian) in a WC (White-Canadian) dominated world, you really don't have many chances to see people that look like yourself in plays, movies or theatre - except in stereotypical roles.  Indeed, this is how writers Chin and Cho felt, as they drew on their own life experiences and friendship, to create a "MIV" (made in Vancouver) cultural theatre experience.  Amazingly, it doesn't feel forced.  The main characters Ray Chow and Jessie Leong, played by Zen Shane Lim and Grace Chin, just happen to be both Chinese-Canadian... but that doesn't mean they don't date Whites - they have.  They just weren't looking in particular to date somebody Chinese either.

Sparks start to fly when Ray Chow, a young reporter covering a flash mob, is soon asked by Jessie Leong what happened.  After some light flirtatious banter they whimiscally decide to meet the next day at a cafe, without exchanging cards or phone numbers.  Echoing romantic comedies of the past, "if it is meant to be, it is meant to be."  And so begins a journey of accidental meetings, flirtations with sexual tension.

Ray and Jessie get off to a rocky start, as Ray starts guessing that a couple of smooching Asians in the café are Japanese... or American.  Jessie challenges him on his stereotyping assumptions, to soon discover that Ray isn't really comfortable in his As-Can skin:

They also discuss they they don't date Asians, citing parental expectations.  Jessie, who is in the film business as an actor/writer, says:

Hmm... So much for the "nice Chinese girl" stereotype for Jessie - especially when she says "by the way, I didn't notice a size difference."

Just two people talking, like in the movies Before Sunrise, and Before Sunset.  And like the characters of Jesse and Celine, their conversations reveal not only an attraction, but also their defensive personalities that have prevented them from achieving any truly real happiness in their lives.  We learn that Ray prefers not to "date" but rather to have "friends."  This helps keep Ray free from overly committing himself to a relationship, whereas Jessie prefers "serial monogamy." 

I went to see Twisting Fortunes on Thursday night, and it is surprisingly good.  The audience was mostly Asian but there were also a number of mixed race couples too.  Almost immediately during the intermission, people were talking about the first act and it's statements about dating.

With my friends, we immediately started comparing dating experiences with both Chinese, Caucasian or other Asian dates.  True or False... Asian males are intimidated by Asian females... or Asians are more reserved in dating behavoirs... Asians don't bring dates home to meet the parents. There is/isn't any difference in size.

The second half becomes darker, and more entangled.  The friendship between Jessie and Ray alternates between going deeper, or more estranged.  They are still trying to work out what they are doing, not only in their own lives - but in relationships with others, and as friends to each other... or is it something more?

Many people who have watched the ongoing theatre soap series "Sex in Vancouver" put on by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre will be familiar with actor Zen Shane Lim, who played Kevin in all the episodes except the final one.  Kathy Leung who filmed the videos for "Sex in Vancouver" is the director here, and is able to transform the small black box theatre into a very flexible space - utilizing almost every inch. 

A large video screen shows different scenes as the characters move from street scene to cafe, from restaurant to apartment, and from art gallery to street scene.  It is an effective way of conveying moods and settings and is never intrusive, but always suggesting.

Twisting Fortunes is a welcome addition to the Asian Canadian arts community.  It reflects accurately the social experiences of Asian Canadians without being preachy or political.  The characters are well-crafted and the audience quickly is drawn into their developing non-relationship.  The sexual tension is playful and drawn out, and reflective of deeper socio-cultural currents - hinted at but never fully explored, nor does it need to be.  If you ever wondered what when wrong in your ex-relationship with that Asian guy/girl - check out this play and maybe you will find the reason.

Grace Chin and Kathy Leung are the hosts of Scripting Aloud, a monthly scriptreading and networking event for scriptwriters and actors, held at Our Town Café (245 E. Broadway, Vancouver, BC). It was at these sessions that Twisting Fortunes was workshopped and honed before being presented in it's finished form at the Playwright's Theatre.

Twisting Fortunes opened earlier this week on Tuesday, but by Thursday - the final Friday show was already sold out.  With largely word of mouth, networking and some choice interviews on CBC Radio and elsewhere, Twisting Fortunes seems to have quickly found its audience.  Too bad it can't run for another week.  Here's hoping for a remount soon... and maybe even a sequel.