Like so many others, I'd seen the movie years ago, but I hadn't read the book. The first thing that struck me about this (Susan Kim's) adaptation was how different it felt in tone from the film. Of course, the decade between viewings might very well have warped my memory, but I recall the film having a darker edge. This performance of Kim's version felt lighter and much more focused on the daughters and the interactions between them and the mothers than it did on the mothers' stories of woe. I appreciated that.

Secondly, this version spoke with greater poetry, writer's analogies were emphasized right along with the life and death drama. I liked that too. The East West Players took five or ten minutes to warm into the play, then confidently brought each character to life, save for the lead. While the other players seemed to really anchor into their characters, the lead felt nonspecific, disconnected.

The set consisted of a tall brick apartment building face complete with fire escape taking up half the stage and a huge scroll comprising the rest. Academically, I didn't see how intrinsic these two mammoth objects were to the story, but aesthetically, it worked. They looked great and splendidly lit too. Lastly, I enjoyed the minimalist musical interludes and backing. A cello, piano, flute and simple percussion instruments were left on stage usually in an unlit corner where one of the actors would subtly provide great mood music to scenes as needed.

The play is pleasantly engaging up until the very ending which feels awkwardly tacked on. Whereas the entire production blends harsh realism with poetry and humor -- a statement on its own, the last one minute segment attempts to tie it all together with a shiny bow of generic hope.

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --