By Dan White – Special to the Sydenham Current
If you ever get the chance to see Salesman in China, take the opportunity.
Joni and I added it as a rather last-minute show to our Stratford shows this year.
Our friend Mark Smith, scenic carpenter at Stratford Festival, recommended it during a visit.
He couldn’t say enough about the show.
So, Joni and I played around with the idea, but really didn’t think we could fit it in around Oktoberfest gigs and after our trip out east.
As it happens, our friend David from London called and said he would like to see a show in Stratford and wondered if we would join him.
We revisited our calendars and found one date that aligned.
It was fate.
The show was truly what a drama should be; it made you think, it spurred on emotions, it was entertaining, engaging, creative, and yes, funny.
It tells the true story of a 1983 production of Death of a Salesman, a production where American playwright Arthur Miller traveled to Beijing, China, to direct the show presented in Mandarin.
Most of the cast is of Asian ancestry, and they often spoke Mandarin during the performance.
It was not an obstacle as every word was projected onto the stage.
If the actors spoke Mandarin, English was projected and vice versa.
It did not take long to acclimate to following the dialogue and the acting.
Legendary Chinese actor Ying Ruocheng, played by Adrian Pang, is playing Willy Lowman, and Miller, played by Tom McCamus, must try to direct the show with cultural challenges (China had no door-to-door salesmen, insurance policies, or personal automobiles, all touchstones in Salesman), and of course, there is also the language barrier.
The two strive to create a show that speaks to an audience that has little connection with the iconic American drama and the struggles of Lowman.
The two leads were outstanding.
Miller was abrasive, passionate, insensitive, and bullheaded, while Ruocheng was struggling to appease the authorities, Miller, and his skeptical cast.
Both McCamus and Pang’s performances were exquisite as they played off of one another and showed a sometimes forced friendship evolving until the show finally took the stage to much acclaim.
While time has run out on this year’s presentation in Stratford, if you happen to be in Ottawa in January, this production has a run from Jan 16-25 at the National Arts Centre.
If you prefer to stay close to home, check out Theatre Kent’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar, playing at the Chatham Capitol Theatre November 14-16.
You can purchase tickets through CKtickets.com or at the box office housed in the Chatham Cultural Centre until the show opens, then it moves to the Capitol.
If you have never seen this show, the music is fabulous.
It is an Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice creation written in 1971, and it is a classic.
I doubt that I need to outline the story to most, and while it does tell the story of Jesus, you don’t have to be Christian or religious to enjoy the music and story.
The cast and crew have been working for months on this production, and while I don’t know them, I have heard fabulous things about the director, Jamie Johnston, and Musical Director, Tom Overton.
Act fast; when Joni and I purchased our tickets in late October, they were already well on the way to a sold-out main floor.
Wouldn’t it be something if the Capitol Theatre balcony had to be opened and the show could boast a sold-out show?
This is community theatre worth supporting.
Oh, a fun fact—we are attending with our friend Katie, the daughter of the aforementioned David.
Do yourself a favor and look up the songs on YouTube.
What a great way to launch yourself into the Christmas season.
Speaking of the Christmas season, the Wallaceburg Brass Quintet, with myself, Joni, Dave Babbitt, Meighan Lung, and Chris Mann, have the honor of kicking off Dresden Shines concerts this season.
We will be playing at the Wheelhouse starting at 8 pm on November 21.
We will play two sets, with the first being largely arrangements of contemporary songs and the second, Christmas/Holiday favorites to get you in the mood.
Why not make a night of it?
Head to Christmas Town and take in the magnificent light displays all over town, check out some of the businesses, grab a bite, soak in the atmosphere, and then head to the Wheelhouse for 8.
If you haven’t traveled to Dresden in a few years, make the effort.
There is lots to do every Thursday evening from Nov 21 until Dec 19, and be sure to check out the Christmas Night Market on November 30.
I’m sure next week Dave will update you on our Wallaceburg Concert Band Christmas Concerts.
But be sure to put Dec 1, 2 pm in Chatham, and Dec 7, 7 pm in Wallaceburg, in your calendar.
