Flower Drum Song

[dacvingwolf]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 7:05pm

I just saw it performed in San Jose and I LOVED IT!! Emily Hsu was a great Linda Low! Mei-Li was kind of annoying because I did not know she'd be talking with a thick accent throughout the entire play. I also think that the guy who played Ta was really good (the guy from Cinderella with Brandy). Overall, a very good play! GO SEE IT IF YOU LIVE IN THE BAY AREA!!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 7:40pm

The cast was excellent. I didn't have a problem with the accents apart from the inconsistency between different characters. Emily Hsu's accent was fairly accurate, though -- I'm Chinese American and I may have found it easier to understand because I've heard various degrees of it my entire life.

[BWNUT]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 7:43pm

Who played Mei-Li? Was it Ma-anne Dionisio?
Updated On: 11/3/08 at 07:43 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 8:04pm

Emily Hsu.

Ma-Anne's paperwork didn't come in on time.

[dacvingwolf]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 8:17pm

No Emily Hsu played Linda Low, Mei-Li was played by Michelle Liu Coughlin

[BWNUT]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 8:27pm

That's too bad. Ma-anne understudied for Lea Salonga in LA and NY and she was excellent. I was thinking of seeing her again. (or was that Jennifer Paz?)

Updated On: 11/3/08 at 08:27 PM

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 8:43pm

Paolo Montalban played Ta in the San Jose production.

Jennifer Paz was Lea's alternate in the LA production.

Manne Dionisio was Lea's understudy in the Broadway Production.

Emily Hsu replaced Sandra Allen on Broadway and performed the last few weeks up to the closing night. Yuka Takara replaced Lea Salonga on Broadway and also performed the last few weeks up to the closing night.

Updated On: 11/3/08 at 08:43 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 12:18am

Oops, sorry! Ha.

Here's a cast list.

http://www.amtsj.org/stage/flowerdrumsong.html

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 12:25am

Did they use the original and much better book?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 12:25am

No.

http://www.asianweek.com/2008/11/03/flower-drums-new-song/

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 6:29pm

Having been born and raised in San Francisco, FLOWER DRUM SONG has always had a special place in my heart. And now, having evolved into a middle-aged Rice Queen, well, AFAIC, there is no better evening in the theatre

I won't go into the various pros and cons of the original versus the revisal. While I saw the revisal a dozen or so times in New York, I only saw the original production once (in Las Vegas, with Pat Suzuki as Madame Leong and the adorable Thomas Sesma as Ta), so my experience with the original is pretty much limited to the OBCR and the movie.

IMHO, while perfectly enjoyable, the San Jose production wasn't as good as the NY production. Unlike Jose Llana, Paolo Montalban doesn't come off callow and self-centered enough at the beginning, so his transformation in the second act isn't the pivotal event is should be. Joseph Anthony Foronda does a good job as Chi-Yang, but I just thought Randall Duk Kim gave a more poignant performance. My favorite Mei-Li was Yuka Takara. Michelle Liu Coughlin didn't seem vulnerable enough to me. She seemed like the kind of gal who would've told Ta to go jump in the bay instead of taking him back so readily.

Both Rod Voltaire-Edora (Harvard) and Erin Quill (Mme Liang)could take a lesson from that old pro, Alvin Ing, about how to sell a character. Ing knows how to hold back and bring the audience to him instead of going out and grabbing them by the throat. He nails every laugh and only the most stone-faced can sit through his tender second act number 'My Best Love' and not feel tears welling up in their eyes. Both Voltaire-Edora and Quill overplay their parts too much and rush through their lines like they have a train to catch, losing good laughs in the process. Oh, Jodi Long, weren't you available for just two weeks?

Part of the problem may be the barn that is the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. I sat down in the front orchestra, but the actors may feel the need to act as broadly as possibly in order to project all the way up the far reaches of the balcony.

BTW: does anyone know how Francis Jue is doing? According to theatremania, he withdrew due to an injury. I would've loved to see his take on the role of Master Wang.

For all my meowing, for me, this show is still a great crowd pleaser. There were more than a few people dabbing at their eyes during the wedding finale and the exit chatter I heard was most positive. Hopefully it will continue to have a life on the road in years to come.

[me2]

Posted: 11/12/08 at 9:43pm

There seems to be a production that will be touring to a few stops. Is this one it?
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