Family Devotions
Written by David Henry Hwang
Directed by Jenn Adams
Greenhouse Thtr Center, 2257 N. Lincoln (map)
thru Sept 4 | tickets: $18-$25 | more info
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Family and cultures clash in uneven production
Halcyon Theatre presents
Family Devotions
Review by Keith Ecker
Playwright David Henry Hwang is having one heck of a Chicago summer. Silk Road Theatre produced Hwang’s 2007 play Yellow Face in June (our review 4STARS), while the Goodman premiered Hwang’s newest work, Chinglish (review 3STARS), which is now headed to Broadway. Now Halcyon Theatre is throwing its hat into the Asian-American mix with Family Devotions, an earlier work from the Tony Award-winning writer.
All this said, the brilliance of Hwang’s script is unfortunately not matched by the quality of the production. Although the majority of the cast is capable, the direction (care of Jenn Adams) falls way off the mark. This has a significantly negative effect on the performances. Additionally, the set design is tragically ill-conceived. Not only is the awkward indoor-outdoor set-up confusing, it also creates obstructed sightlines from pretty much every seat in the house.
The play focuses on a Chinese-American family reunion. We are introduced to the various blood and non-blood relatives. We have the young and culturally acclimated Jenny (Katelyn Foley) and Chester (Jin Kim); the two mothers Joanne (Helen Young) and Hannah (Eliza Shin); their husbands Wilbur (Dwight E. Sora) and Robert (Gordeon Chow) and the two elder matriarchs Popo (Kaori Aoshima) and Ama (Mia Park). The family has gathered together in the backyard of their well-appointed house to welcome Di-Gou (Arvin Jalandoon), the brother of Popo and Ama, who stayed behind in China after his sisters fled to the States.
Prior to Di-Gou’s arrival, there is much talk about the perks of living in the U.S. versus living within the oppressive confines of Communist China. Popo and Ama are deeply Christian, a religion they would not be practicing had they stayed back in the homeland. Meanwhile, Robert is a hubristic bank owner who is particularly sensitive about his self-image. So when Di-Gou finally arrives, the family is shocked to discover the depth of his loyalty to his mother country.
 
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Jalandoon’s portrayal of Di-Gou is grounded and sympathetic. It is subtle but not subdued. This serves as a good counterbalance for the expressive Aoshima and Park, who portray the play’s main source of laughs. However, save for Di-Gou, there are not enough layers to this colorful cast of characters. Director Adams could explore emotional levels more, adding some much-needed depth, heightening the emotional significance of certain scenes and saving the actors from appearing too cartoonish.
Additionally, the presence of a post in the middle of the set cuts the stage in an odd way. Because it obstructs so prominently, it’s a major annoyance.
If you’re a fan of Hwang’s work, you will enjoy Halcyon’s production because of the script. Likewise, if you’re of Chinese descent, you may identify with some of the cultural references. But a general theatergoing audience with expectations for a polished play may leave disappointed.
Rating: ★★½
Halcyon Theatre’s Family Devotions continues through September 4th at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $18-$25, and can be purchased by phone (773-404-7336) or online at Tix.com. More information at HalcyonTheatre.org.
All photos by Tom McGrath
artists
cast
Kaori Aoshima (Popo); Gordon Chow (Robert); Katelyn Foley (Jenny); Arvin Jalandoon (Di-Gou); Jin Kim (Chester); Mia Park (Ama); Eliza Shin (Hannah); Dwight E. Sora (Wilbur); Helen Young (Joanne)
behind the scenes
