BECOMING CHINESE

Theater Review

By Chad Menville

published November 20, 2007

The Joy Luck Club

Now playing Off Broadway at the Julia Miles Theatre

through December 1

In a rich tapestry illustrating some of life’s most delicate transgressions, four United States-reared daughters and their Chinese mothers weave their various stories into a satisfying theatrical experience. Personal revelations and growth bloom in every scene as each successive familial tale is told.  In this delightfully sumptuous process, we are led through six decades and two continents (from The United States to China and back again), unearthing the bittersweet roots of these eight individuals. Their circumstances are complicated, inspiring and heartbreaking.  With recurring themes including loyalty to one’s family, silence, realizing one’s worth, and above all, the continually evolving search for identity, the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre celebrates its thirty-first season with a compelling production that stays true to both Amy Tan’s novel and Wayne Wang’s film, boiling each vignette down to a rich essence.