Alliance’s “Chinese Lady” borrows from history to explore racism

For a small fee, people were invited to look at Afong Moy’s small, bound feet and stare at them as she used chopsticks and drank tea while interpreter Atung (Lee) attended to her needs and narrated it to the audience – including President Andrew Jackson , who treated this exhibition like a carnival performance – variations on what she said in Chinese, with no depth or nuance.

In Suh’s piece, the exhibition is presented to us multiple times with extensive commentary from Moy’s inner voice, full of vigor and frustrated optimism about the possibility of fostering connection and understanding between cultures. Every time Atung opens and closes the curtain, more years pass for Moy, who becomes more and more resentful of her exploitation, her forced separation from her homeland, and the stereotypical, racist and sexist ways in which she is exploited. Her cruel portrayal as a crazy, “other” curiosity of history completely out of her control has done more harm than good.

It’s a fascinating story, well presented by McLeod. It’s entertaining, fast-paced and funny with deep, serious undertones.

The excellent script requires the actors to continually exist both in the story and as modern perspectives, commenting on the inhumane cruelty of the situation. Dialogue often requires Agena to provide explanations and context to the scenes she is in, and she handles this task deftly. Her delivery is often funny with a bitter edge. Fans of her work as Lane Kim on Gilmore Girls won’t be disappointed, as much of the fast-paced humor fits the vibe of that show, but The Chinese Lady is also devastating in places.

Lee’s work is also excellent, figuring out what intentions would drive a character who is Moy’s servant and his voice to the world. In many ways, Atung is her only ally, but not her friend.

Atlanta needs this show. The spa shootings of 2021 remain in our collective memory as a dark day for our city and country, and this piece attempts to explore why and when some began to view Asians as disposable objects rather than people. It is a monumental issue to tackle, but it is worthwhile and necessary work.

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THEATER REVIEW

“The Chinese Lady”

Through October 17th at the Hertz Stage at the Alliance Theater. $25-$75. Alliance Theater, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 404-733-4600, alliancetheatre.org

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Benjamin Carr is an ArtsATL editor who has contributed to the publication since 2019 and is a member of the American Theater Critics Association, the Dramatists Guild, the Atlanta Press Club, and the Horror Writers Association. His writing has been featured in podcasts for iHeartMedia, on stage at the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and online in the Guardian. His debut novel, Impacted, was published by Story Plant.

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