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| Tong (Jenelle Chu, left) and her mother, Huong (Cindy Im), settle into their Fort Chaffee, Ark., room. |
In Qui Nguyen’s “Vietgone,” Vietnamese refugees find
themselves in a camp in Fort Chaffee, Ark., after escaping with just their
lives in 1975.
In this production by American Conservatory Theater,
Quang (James Seol), a South Vietnamese military helicopter pilot who rescued
numerous countrymen, wants nothing more than to return to his wife and two
children in Vietnam.
Tong (Jenelle Chu), whose beloved younger brother
refused to go because of his girlfriend, seems resolved to becoming
Americanized. Her mother, Huong (Cindy Im), would rather be back in Vietnam.
Hoping to catch a Navy boat back to Vietnam, Quang
and his buddy, Nhan (Stephen Hu), set off on a cross-country motorcycle trip to
California.
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| Tong has an idea for Quang (James Seol). |
Before that, however, Quang and Tong become sexually
involved despite his being married, much to her mother’s disapproval.
In the stronger second act, Quang’s friend Nhan
becomes pivotal to the story when he convinces Quang that going back to Vietnam
would be hopeless and that he should follow his heart by returning to Tong.
Likewise, Tong’s mother convinces her to follow her
heart and give in to her love for Quang.
That’s the bare outline of this presentation of the
story of the playwright’s parents, Quang and Tong.
Its action shifts back and forth as the characters
undergo various experiences over several decades.
During their motorcycle trip,
Quang and Nhan encounter an assortment of characters played by Im as the other
women and by Hu and Jomar Tagatac as the other men.
All of this would be just fine if it weren’t for the
often unrelenting torrent of profanities and occasional loud raps, which some
viewers might find offensive or offputting at worst and unnecessary at best.
Otherwise, it’s an interesting, human-focused look
at some little known fallout from the country’s most unpopular war.
Directed by Jaime Castañeda and billed as a
road-trip comedy, the play is well acted. The two-level set by Brian Sidney
Bembridge with projections by Chris Lundahl is simple but flexible.
Also effective are the lighting by Wen-Ling Liao and
costumes by Jessie Amoroso. However, the sound by Jake Rodriguez and music by
Shammy Dee are sometimes too loud.
Running about two hours and 20 minutes with one
intermission, “Vietgone” will continue through April 22 at ACT’s Strand
Theater, 1127 Market St., San Francisco.
For tickets and information, call (415) 749-2228 or
visit www.act-sf.org.
Photos by Kevin Berne
