신 선 영 Sun Yung Shin

Support Asian American Theater THIS WEEKEND in Minneapolis!!!

Q & A
by Juliana Hu Pegues
Mixed Blood Theater
Directed by David Mura

Starring:  Katie Leo, Laurine Price, and Bao Phi

Three Asian Americans: a wanna-be rapper, a pothead, and an intellectual are thrown into a world of speed dating and interrogations.  Known only by their numbers, 187, 1/2, and 9066 must answer questions about their racial and sexual identity, moving from the current moment to a future world where government repression spawns an underground resistance.  Q & A is a funny, fanciful, and frightening journey into the heart of who we are and how we define ourselves in America.

Dates: May 22 - June 8, 2008

Venue: Mixed Blood Theater, 1501 S Fourth St, Minneapolis

Performances: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm; Sunday at 2:00 pm
Audio Description: Saturday, May 31
ASL: Saturday, June 7
Pay-what-you-can: Monday, June 2 @ 8:00 pm
**NO PERFORMANCE THURSDAY JUNE 5**

Tickets: $18 adults; $16 student/senior; $14 groups 10+
Previews $10

Reservations: 612.338.6131 or www.mixedblood.com

More information:  www.theatermu.org

Movie of the Week: SUNSHINE

I hadn't heard of this movie until it showed up on our Apple TV rental menu--it's directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, the team that brought us 28 Days Later. While the science seemed dubious to this non-physicist, and the Asian astronaut deaths vs. White astronaut deaths were problematic (yet predictable) to this Asian American consumer, it was entertaining and even intriguing at times.

The film was visually rich, formal, and dreamy.

The soundtrack was haunting, heavy, insistent, much like those of 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. Cillian Murphy and Rose Byrne, from those aforementioned Boyle films, were sensitive and lovely, possibly too sensitive and lovely for astronauts. And too young and pretty. Michelle Yeoh was a surprising bonus, and believable as a smart person.  I liked the three yellow-brown/brown male actors as well: Cliff Curtis (who is Maori); Hiroyuki Sanada; and Benedict Wong.

This review pretty much reflects my feelings about this film: http://www.futuremovies.co.uk/review.asp?ID=686

The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang

This book is a must read for all Americans.

Please read my feature on the author here: http://www.womenspress.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=3056