By Jennifer Beasley.
Themes of sexual assault, internalised misogyny and the healing power of friendship defines this powerful musical.
Small Ripples Theatre presents Hidden Tunes as part of La Mamma’s Festival of Mother Tongues.
Before I go any further, I must disclose that there are trigger warnings embedded in this musical. Mentions of sexual harassment (assault also implied) and depictions of sexism and misogyny are also included.
Now that you are suitably warned, let’s take a look at this powerful musical that is sung/spoken in Mandarin, with English surtitles.
Examining the story of two students accepted into a prestigious music school in China, Xiao Qian, played by the dynamic Lansy Feng (How I Met My Dead Husband & I, Me, She ,Him) and A Jai, a contained performance by Yujia Du, which balances the overactive energy of the creative Quin, form a close friendship which is tested at Xiao Qian’s darkest hour.
Accompanied by traditional Chinese instruments, played by Jun Bin Lee (also Music Director and Composer) on the guitar and Bingyao Liu on the Yangqin (a plucked stringed instrument like a Zither), this mash-up of hip-hop, rap, Mando-pop and traditional Chinese music forms the backdrop for this production, with some very good songs, as part of this ensemble (please put this on Spotify!)
A Jai, a loner who craves the attention of her mother, is a forlorn figure, as she sings that her ‘Soul was once lost – trapped in a glass bottle.’ A great foreshadowing and emotional character switch later on. Enter the energetic and perpetually ‘on’ Xiao Qian, and the two gel, forming a friendship built on trust and love, as they practice and perform together to enter a music composition, that will hopefully garner international attention. However, their happiness takes a dark turn when this elects unwanted attention, and Xiao Qian suffers from the dark desires of Professor Yang, a highly regarded teacher at the school. The audience never sees the professor. Rather, like a ghostly shadow, his picture hangs at the rear of the stage, a constant reminder of the mental and physical affects of his actions upon the survivor.
Supported by a trio of actors/singers (The Narrators)- Angel Xiao (Love Letters) as Xiao Mei, Yuyang Peng as Xiao Shaui and Jiawen Feng as Xiao Huang- this musical also explores the effect on friendships. With the melodious harmonies of the trio weaving exposition by firstly praising the good name of the professor, then switching to the soulful ‘Happy Birthday’ number, full of reminders of friends who love you, then acting as blank masked keyboard warriors who blindly blame victims of crime, this ambition piece can deliver the emotional nuances needed for such a dark subject. Thanks to the incredible performance of Feng (girl, where have you been?), the audience is immediately invested in this woman, whose hopes and dreams are ripped from her, while her friend, A Jai, watches impotently from the side, too shocked and conditioned by society to act.
Yet the power of friendship endures.
There are some weaknesses with the singing, which can be overcome with mics, as at times the music overpowers the performers. However, the story structure is strong. To have a musical about this subject is a brave and bold move. I highly recommend this performance from this budding theatrical company that has taken a universal story of a still unaddressed topic, in particular the take on how bystanders console survivors, and imbues it with love, compassion and humour. A wonderful production. Keep it up!
Hidden Tunes plays at the Motley Bauhaus (La Mamma)) at 8:30pm Sunday November 24th, 2024 and at Library @ The Docks at 7pm November 29th, 2024.
