Tonight:
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Fiona Mountford's rating
More Light is directed with panache
By
Fiona Mountford
19 May 2009
The British Museum’s recent blockbusting exhibition might have got us to the Terracotta Army in the outer chamber of the mighty necropolis built for the “First Emperor” of China but Bryony Lavery is taking us further. Under the witty, inventive supervision of this always surprising playwright, we venture into the as-yet unexcavated inner tomb, where hundreds of people allegedly lie buried alongside Qin Shi Huangdi.
Lavery’s perceptive focus is upon the Emperor’s concubines, who were shut up alive with their master along with the convict-labourers and mathematicians. More Light (Catrina Lear) acts as our narrator, leading us through this short, startling piece that sees seven young women, trained to the hilt in decorum and ritual, become mutilators and cannibals. “We have always eaten royally,” comes the justification, as the group decides to tuck into the big chief himself in its efforts to stave off impending death.
Lear herself directs this elegant production with panache, combining a host of hypnotic ensemble movements with some precision-drilled choral speaking. Seven lovely turns suggest, too late alas, the delightful blossoming of proto-feminist sentiment from those who have known only subservience.
More Light until 30 May (020 7503 1646, www.arcolatheatre.com).
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (5)
The More Light issue is more or less resolved now, though this is indicative of the struggle we SE-Asians face in the UK media.
A song by Lily Allen, "Chinese" has been brought to my attention, which includes the lines "We'll get a Chinese and watch TV".
The usage of the term "Chinese" to stand for food is a type of insidious racism that is tolerated because of this casual usage that goes unchallenged. We must ensure this practice stops and I call upon all Chinese to boycott Lily Allen until she issues an apology.
- Gladys Ong, London, 21/07/2009 10:08
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I think cries of racism are ill-founded. Perhaps - shocking as it may sound - they were selected on the basis of the applicants with the most merit, rather than setting out to pick a set of seven Asian actors, and considering the excellent reviews it's received
More to the point, there's no "yellow face" to be found, as they're all wearing heavy white make-up - I suppose that is in itself a reflection of ancient Chinese racism. Damn their whiteface makeup!
Frankly, I'm glad that nobody saw fit to comment on race, because perhaps it means finally we've gone far from the genuine racism you imagined in this piece and we're finally ending the excessive worry over it that means we're more concerned with getting the right race for the role than the right actor and perhaps reaching a point where we're no more shocked than we are by a brunette in a blonde wig playing Queenie across town.
- Chris Smiith, Chelmsford, 21/07/2009 09:08
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One of the best evenings I've had in the theatre for a long time. Catrina Lear was brilliant, ditto the rest of the cast. Amazing play by Bryony Lavery, I'd have given it 5 stars!
- Mr Cat Man, London, 21/07/2009 09:08
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Highly talented cast, wonderful direction, beautiful setting and lights... a must see!
The three producers have done something exceptionally good!
Great Bryony Lavery !
- Pia Caruso, Rome/London-Italy/UK, 21/07/2009 09:08
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Irrespective of the merits of this play or performances, why, in any of the recent reviews of More Light at The Arcola, do none of the mainstream critics (Lyn Gardner, Fiona Mountford, Sam Marlowe) question why there isn't a single East Asian actor playing a Chinese role in this play set in China?
Imagine the outcry if a Black or South Asian play had white actors blacked or browned up today. One had hoped that the age of the Black and White Minstrels, It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Fu Manchu era was over.
Given the Arts Council's efforts in promoting diversity, eg. through the decibel initiative, and Yellow Earth Theatre's excellent track record of showcasing quality British East Asian actors over the last 14 years, this "Yellow Face" casting (white actors wearing offensive "yellow" make-up) is a blatant, institutionally racist oversight that is totally unacceptable in 21st century British theatre.
The practice of "Yellow Face" is no longer tolerated in the USA. It's time that all British theatre artists - and some ignorant critics - in this sometimes backward, provincial little country of ours caught up, particularly with the aspirations of London 2012 coming up. How can we possibly greet the rest of the world with our Cultural Olympiad's values of "unique internationalism, cultural diversity, sharing and understanding" when some of our own artists and critics are still living in the dark ages?
- Gladys Ong, London, UK, 21/07/2009 09:08
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