Chicago's dueEast presents TRIAL BY WATER (Sep07)

Who: dueEast Theatre Company in conjunction with A-Squared Theater Workshop presents the Midwest debut of the play, “Trial by Water" by Qui Nguyen. dueEast Theatre Company explores the Asian American/Pacific Island experience through theatre, dynamically brings those stories to the general theatre-going public, and gives APIA theatre artists opportunities in the arts. A-Squared Theater Workshop is a collective who creates an artistic environment of risk taking and growth for Asian American theatre artists. This year, A-Squared Theater Workshop performed several staged readings of plays written by or about Asians and Asian Americans. “Trial By Water” is their debut stage production. The play features local actors Mia Park (“Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow”) and Cary Shoda (“Camino Real”).

What: On May 22, 1988, 110 Vietnamese crowded onto a small boat to escape their country. The first day at sea, they met a vicious storm. When the storm passed, the engine could not be restarted. They began to drift. Instead of floating back to Vietnam as everyone had hoped, the waves carried them further out to sea. The expected weeklong voyage stretched into 38 days. Ten days into the trip people began dying of thirst and hunger. Murder and cannibalism took over. When Filipino fishermen came to the rescue, there were 52 survivors.

A 10 year old boy who was on the boat is Mr. Nguyen's cousin. The author has dedicated the play to him, their families and "all the Vietnamese Boat People." The playwright reports that after his cousin reached the United States, he told Mr. Nguyen, "I think my soul is dead." The survivor was 10; Mr. Nguyen was 12. Based on these events, Qui Nguyen's play "Trial by Water" chronicles the voyage of two young brothers, Huy and Hung, from Vietnam to the Philippines in order to start new lives. As the engine on their boat breaks, their voyage becomes an Odyssey forcing each brother to examine their morality as they face peril of nightmarish proportions.

This Chicago debut of “Trial By Water” features actors wearing Japanese Noh masks, moving with dark, sweeping motions on a sparse, barren stage. The stark visuals of the set are reflected in the earth toned, draping wardrobes.

"Trial by Water" was first produced in 2006 by the Ma-Yi company of New York and lauded by critics.

Where: EP Theater, 1820 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL, 312-850-4299. EP Theater seats 50 and is located in the artsy Pilsen neighborhood on Chicago’s near south side. The theater entrance is in the back of the building. CTA: Redline Cermak/Chinatown stop to #18 bus West; Orange Line Halsted stop to # 8 bus North; Blue Line UIC/Halsted stop to #8 South; #168 bus. Metra: BNSF Railway Halsted stop. Driving: 90/94 East to 18th Street exit. At 18th Street, turn east. At Halsted turn south. EP Theater is on the east side of Halsted. Street parking available.

When: Invitation only performance at 8:00 PM on Friday, October 26, 2007. Opening night Saturday, October 27th at 8:00 PM. The play runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00PM and Sundays at 7:00PM through November 18, 2007. Tickets are $15 at the theater box office or by calling the reservation hotline at 773-353-5979.

Why: Director Allen Hope Sermonia of dueEast Theatre Company says that “’Trial By Water’ is a compelling play because it contains the universal themes of survival and personal morality. ’Trial by Water’ is semi-biographical of Vietnamese boat persons after the Vietnam War. Though the American theatrical canon has several plays about Vietnam vets dealing with the aftermath of war, plays regarding the Vietnamese experience to become American are a rarity. ‘Trial By Water’ is written by an Asian American author performed by Asian Americans. We need to tell our stories to ourselves as much as we need to tell others. We want to reflect what’s actually happening in our world. In addition, we’re discovering our own artistic and cultural voices through the rehearsal and production process of ‘Trial By Water’. As a side note, Nguyen's ‘Trial by Water’ is the first in a trilogy of plays to chronicle the Vietnamese American experience.”

“Trial by Water” Related URL’s:
A-Squared Theater Workshop: www.myspace.com/ASquaredTheaterWorkshop
Playwright: Qui Nguyen, www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qui_Nguyen
Venue: EP THEATER, www.eptheater.com

Questions? Email



	dueEast presents Trial by Water Who: dueEast Theatre Company in conjunction with A-Squared Theater Workshop presents the Midwest debut of the play, “Trial by Water" by Qui Nguyen. dueEast Theatre Company explores the Asian American/Pacific Island experience through theatre, dynamically brings those stories to the general theatre-going public, and gives APIA theatre artists opportunities in the arts. A-Squared Theater Workshop is a collective who creates an artistic environment of risk taking and growth for Asian American theatre artists. This year, A-Squared Theater Workshop performed several staged readings of plays written by or about Asians and Asian Americans. “Trial By Water” is their debut stage production. The play features local actors Mia Park (“Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow”) and Cary Shoda (“Camino Real”). What: On May 22, 1988, 110 Vietnamese crowded onto a small boat to escape their country. The first day at sea, they met a vicious storm. When the storm passed, the engine could not be restarted. They began to drift. Instead of floating back to Vietnam as everyone had hoped, the waves carried them further out to sea. The expected weeklong voyage stretched into 38 days. Ten days into the trip people began dying of thirst and hunger. Murder and cannibalism took over. When Filipino fishermen came to the rescue, there were 52 survivors. A 10 year old boy who was on the boat is Mr. Nguyen's cousin. The author has dedicated the play to him, their families and "all the Vietnamese Boat People." The playwright reports that after his cousin reached the United States, he told Mr. Nguyen, "I think my soul is dead." The survivor was 10; Mr. Nguyen was 12. Based on these events, Qui Nguyen's play "Trial by Water" chronicles the voyage of two young brothers, Huy and Hung, from Vietnam to the Philippines in order to start new lives. As the engine on their boat breaks, their voyage becomes an Odyssey forcing each brother to examine their morality as they face peril of nightmarish proportions. This Chicago debut of “Trial By Water” features actors wearing Japanese Noh masks, moving with dark, sweeping motions on a sparse, barren stage. The stark visuals of the set are reflected in the earth toned, draping wardrobes. "Trial by Water" was first produced in 2006 by the Ma-Yi company of New York and lauded by critics. “It is interesting to see how facts and fiction combine, for Mr. Nguyen wants to talk not only about the descent into savagery aboard the boat but also about how to live a humane and moral life in a world in which events would often dictate otherwise.: - New York Times. “Beneath the shrieks and fake blood, Nguyen's play asks an absorbing question no 15-year-old should have to answer: What does it profit you to gain the whole world if you lose your soul?” - Village Voice. Where: EP Theater, 1820 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL, 312-850-4299. EP Theater seats 50 and is located in the artsy Pilsen neighborhood on Chicago’s near south side. The theater entrance is in the back of the building. CTA: Redline Cermak/Chinatown stop to #18 bus West; Orange Line Halsted stop to # 8 bus North; Blue Line UIC/Halsted stop to #8 South; #168 bus. Metra: BNSF Railway Halsted stop. Driving: 90/94 East to 18th Street exit. At 18th Street, turn east. At Halsted turn south. EP Theater is on the east side of Halsted. Street parking available. When: Invitation only performance at 8:00 PM on Friday, October 26, 2007. Opening night Saturday, October 27th at 8:00 PM. The play runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00PM and Sundays at 7:00PM through November 18, 2007. Tickets are $15 at the theater box office or by calling the reservation hotline at 773-353-5979. Why: Director Allen Hope Sermonia of dueEast Theatre Company says that “’Trial By Water’ is a compelling play because it contains the universal themes of survival and personal morality. ’Trial by Water’ is semi-biographical of Vietnamese boat persons after the Vietnam War. Though the American theatrical canon has several plays about Vietnam vets dealing with the aftermath of war, plays regarding the Vietnamese experience to become American are a rarity. ‘Trial By Water’ is written by an Asian American author performed by Asian Americans. We need to tell our stories to ourselves as much as we need to tell others. We want to reflect what’s actually happening in our world. In addition, we’re discovering our own artistic and cultural voices through the rehearsal and production process of ‘Trial By Water’. As a side note, Nguyen's ‘Trial by Water’ is the first in a trilogy of plays to chronicle the Vietnamese American experience.” “Trial by Water” Related URL’s: A-Squared Theater Workshop: www.myspace.com/ASquaredTheaterWorkshop Playwright: Qui Nguyen, www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qui_Nguyen Venue: EP THEATER, www.eptheater.com Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Plays \| Library/Storefront Copyright 2007, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

dueEast presents Trial by Water