Review-Otherhood-Not So Loud
19-4-13
By: Olivia Rosenman
Curtain up: women sit side-by-side, completely absorbed by their iPhones. How very Hong Kong!
Five lonely women, five unique stories and, despite their protestations, one strong bond between them all. Otherhood explores the experience of the ‘trailing spouse’ in Hong Kong, accompanying these women to the children’s playgroup, stiff morning teas and engagements at the women’s club. The audience gains an insight into their loneliness but also the community they manage to create for themselves.
For those not familiar with the term, a ‘trailing spouse’ is a term used in the ‘expatriate’ world, applied to a person (let’s face it, overwhelmingly a wife) who follows their partner to a foreign location for the partner’s job. To describe a few of the ragbag group, there is Tina, the straight-laced Mormon from Utah who lightens and loosens up in the company of her new heathen Hong Kong friends. There's Jade, a bleeding-heart nurse who doesn’t quite fit the typical glamour expected of a trailing spouse but they accept her all the same. Vivienne is not actually a trailing spouse; she’s the wife of a Hong Kong tycoon and her glamour makes up for what Jade lacks. Even though she’s on home turf, Vivienne shares the experience of isolation that is common to the others. Petunia is a trailing spouse who has come to Hong Kong to follow her female partner, which shows refreshing broad-mindedness on the part of the playwrights (although it might have been nice to include a male trailing spouse too - after all, it does happen).
The playwrights don’t shy away from everything that can make these kinds of person detestable. They live a life of luxury but have no trouble finding things to complain about. If you’ve lived in Hong Kong for any length of time you certainly will have met one. Or maybe you are one yourself. But expat bashing is not interesting (or hard) and that’s not what this play is about. Instead, it’s an insight into the way that humans need friends – and against the odds, they’ll make them anyway.
The cast overall performed well. A bit of discomfort and a few glitches in the first couple of scenes were probably just opening night nerves. Vivienne (Savannah Lee) was a particularly convincing tycoon-wife with a twist; she was a real pleasure to watch. Petunia (Jennie Parker) played the part so well at times I wondered if she was acting at all.
The set is simple, which is appropriate because what is really important here is the relationship between the women. The soundtrack is stirring and it’s worth getting there early to hear the voice of one of the minor characters in the play – a Philippine helper who is also lonely in Hong Kong. She (Mary Jane Alejo) sings to an acoustic guitar as you enter the theatre but, from the little I heard of her voice, she could pull off a show in her own right!
Otherhood is playing at the Fringe Club through Saturday. HKELD has just been informed that it is sold out! For more information, click here.
Comments
juju
I went to the play last night because my friend is in the cast. Had I not known an actress in the play I wouldn't have attended. I liked the idea behind the concept of the script but found huge plot holes in the story. Gay partners aren't recognized in HK so how does Petunia stay here in the first place without a work visa?
20 April 2013
Why would a US marine be based in Hong Kong? There's no military headquarters here. There is one in Belgium where the script was originally set according to your preview.
I also hated the actress who played the nurse. Wooden acting. I didn't believe her for a second.Ares
Agree with the comment above. The idea of the story is good but there are big holes in the story.
20 April 2013Laura Beeman
I give the author a lot of credit for writing something new. I enjoyed the show a lot. I felt the acting was a bit stiff, especially the kiss. It felt forced and had no motivation.
20 April 2013Neil Harris
I have written many times for the production company Not So Loud so I have a vested interest in their work. I thought the play was effective and there was a lightness of touch in the way issues were dealt with. There were plenty of laughs and it was an evening well spent. The women were well cast and on the last night when I went the production was ticking along smoothly. I applaud Tom the director for his effort in continuing to put local stories on stage and raising awareness of local NGOS in the process.
25 April 2013