Theater fanatics, comedy lovers and patrons of the arts alike can take a deep breath: “Chinglish” is making its way to the Syracuse Stage.

For those unfamiliar with “Chinglish,” produced by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, the play revolves around an American businessman, named Daniel Cavanaugh, who goes to China in the hopes of scoring a business deal for his family’s sign company. Despite his hopes, things get lost in translation, fueling the comedic center of the plot.

Aside from the business aspect, the play follows Cavanaugh as he gets caught up in complex situations, including his involvement with a government official. The poorly translated signage displayed throughout the province that Cavanaugh is trying to strike gold in has an effect on the way he feels and interacts with others.

The show, directed by May Adrales, a New York City freelance director, will be performed at Syracuse Stage from Feb. 26 through March 16. Adrales has directed several productions, including “Whaddabloodclot!!!,” “The Wife,” and another Hwang production, “The Dance and the Railroad.”

According to Syracuse Stage’s Feb. 19 press release, Hwang was inspired to create the play after he experienced a series of miscommunications whenever he went on business trips to China. Hwang believes that miscommunication can occur whether or not two people are communicating in the same language.

Syracuse University students and faculty, as well as general theatergoers, can relate to the theme of lost-in-translation communication in “Chinglish,” as it is an inevitable aspect of daily life. The meanings of words, feelings and intent behind text are often miscommunicated.

“Chinglish” first made its way to the Broadway stage back in 2011 at the Longacre Theater. Before that, the show had a successful run at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. The play was also nominated for five Joseph Jefferson Awards for best production, director, actress in a principle role and won for new work and scenic design.

Other plays that Hwang has produced include “The House of Sleeping Beauties,” “Bang Kok,” “Face Value” and “The Great Helmsman.” He has also produced musicals such as “The Voyage,” “Aida,” “Tarzan” and “Alice in Wonderland,” and ones for film and television, such as “The Monkey King,” “Possession” and “Blind Alleys.”

On the nights of the Syracuse Stage production, there will be numerous pre- and post-show events occurring for the duration of the show’s run. On Feb. 28 at the venue’s Sutton Pavilion, there will be an Opening Night Party featuring live music by local band Merit.

Although half of the production is in Mandarin, audiences of all proficiencies of the language, even no knowledge at all, are encouraged to attend. There will be more than 750 subtitle slides to help patrons not only understand what the actors are saying, but also immerse themselves into the world of lost communication that is “Chinglish.”

The Syracuse Stage press release stated that the show’s aim is to poke fun and raise awareness as to the way language is translated in areas, such as China, which causes words to lose their intended meaning. So for those who plan on attending this production, leave your English-Mandarin dictionaries at home.

Patrons should come prepared for hours of laughter and the chance to get a glimpse of what “Chinglish” is all about. By the end of the show, the audience will be able to understand the importance of communication, and might also be able to pick up a word or two of Mandarin as well.

 

Published on February 27, 2014 at 1:00 am