Schema Magazine interviews lead actors Lannette New, Rosie Simon and Jimmy Yi about their characters, performing in Vancouver and being part of an all-Asian cast in VACT's sold-out presentation of Flower Drum Song.
> THE CHARACTERS
Schema: Tell us about your character? Who they are, and what it is about your character that audiences will connect with?
Lannette New
Lannette: I play Linda Low. She is a showgirl who is ready for marriage and all that it brings. However, the man she's involved with (Sammy Fong) doesn't seem to be on the same schedule, so she searches for love and security elsewhere (and thinks she might find it with Wang Ta). She is very much a girl, and enjoys the attention and power that being a woman can bring. While this can be seen as being superficial, I think audiences will connect with her because underneath all her sassiness and flirty bravado, she's just a girl who longs for love, and is doing what she can to make it happen.
Rosie: My Character is Mei Li from Hong Kong. She is 19 years old and during the show, she gets her first taste of the modern American world when she is smuggled in to the county to get married. She is a very obedient and sweet-natured girl but still has a fire about her. She struggles with English, so some of her lines are quite humorous! I think that people will connect with Mei Li in the sense that she's just come to a new and completely different place than she's ever been before.
Jimmy: I play Sammy Fong, the nightclub owner who is in love with Linda Low but attempting to get out of an engagement to Mei Li, [his] picture bride. I think audiences can connect with Sammy because he is a very flawed character. He just does and says things that people filter in their minds. We all think the things that he says and does, but usually use better judgment. I also think people can relate to the predicament that he's in and his struggle of trying to get what he really wants.
Schema: What about your character speaks to your personal experience?
Jimmy Yi
Jimmy: Personally, I can relate to Sammy's dual cultural background and his struggle to find a balance. As much as Sammy is a character that comes across as someone who could care less about his heritage and cultural values, I think he does struggle with honoring some of those values. He obviously wants to honor his mother and is, in his own way, thoughtful of his picture bride's feelings. In similar ways, I can say that I've been through tough decisions in negotiating my own dual cultural background.
Lannette: Linda's character is actually very unlike me, but I do relate to her need to be loved within the security of marriage. As well, we both have a strong sense of self, which gives us an inner confidence to take charge of things in our lives and to make things happen. Where we differ would be in how we go about obtaining those goals; she's much more aggressive and manipulative in her actions while I go the quieter route.
Rosie: I know that I, and many others, have felt wide-eyed and lost when they've moved to somewhere new. Also, I relate her sense of innocence. People lose sight of that in themselves and others, but Mei Li retains that even at age 19. I think that people might smile and remember when they were a kid and life was a fairytale!
> THE SCRIPT
Schema: What can the audience expect from this musical? Describe for us the journey that the audience will experience.
Rosie Simon
Rosie: "Charmed" is the best word I can think of to describe what the audience will think of the show. It has a full range of emotions. Naturally--being a comedy--many wholehearted laughs are guaranteed, but there's also a darker side that the director, Rick Tae, has incorporated, which I think is a vital part of the show.
Jimmy: Audiences will see a story of various characters trying to make the most of situations that are not so ideal. It is also a story of how these characters learn to blend and adapt their firmly held values with values of the "western world." Hopefully, the audience will see people who better themselves by adopting the best of both worlds in the end.
Lannette: I think audiences will enjoy watching this musical. They will be entertained by what at first seems to be a lighthearted show, but they will be surprised as the plot unfolds, characters are developed, and twists occur. This is the kind of show where the audience will root for everyone.
Schema: We know that theatre demands an incredible level of commitment from actors. What made you choose (or want to be a part of) this script?
Jimmy: To be perfectly honest, there just aren't that many juicy roles for Asian men out there and to be able to play a role like Sammy Fong is something I couldn't pass up.
Rosie: I have a confession. When I first read the script I thought it was super cheesy and Mei Li struck me as kind of boring, but I could see it had a lot of potential to be charming, moving and hilarious at the same time. I think you could say our cast and directors gave the script a bit of a "make-over" in our interpretation. But it's a good "make-over!" Haha!
Lannette: I act and perform for both the live theatre and for film. Because of the time commitment required for stage shows, I am quite selective in which shows I will audition for. When I found out that Flower Drum Song was being put on by VACT I was very excited. I had seen the movie version of it when I was younger and knew the story and music would be fun and great to do. The fact that the show was being produced by an Asian Canadian theatre company made it even more appealing--it would be so fantastic doing a show with a company that is creating work for Asian Canadians. I did consult with my agent as well, just to make sure she wasn't pursuing any major leads in the film world that might conflict. I'm very fortunate that my agent supports my passion for theatre, because for the most part, the theatre gigs in Vancouver are unpaid, and the time commitment generally prevent actors from booking paid film and television gigs.
Schema: And your favorite scene?
Lannette: My favourite scene has to be the Garden Party scene (Act 1, Scene 5). It's actually the longest scene in the show and it's packed with three great songs!
Rosie: My favorite scene is probably "Don't Marry Me" which is sung between Mei Li and Sammy Fong. It's very fun and playful but has a undertone of desperation from Sammy that makes it that much more interesting to watch! And it's always great to watch Jimmy dance himself to death! Hehe
Jimmy: For me, it's when Ta comes to give a wedding gift to Mei Li, the night before she is to marry Sammy Fong. The exchange between the two characters is very tender and charmingly humorous.
> THE STORY
Schema: Why do you think this play is relevant today? What do you think it speaks to?
Lannette: While the story is set in the 50's, the themes of generation gaps and relationships are universal and timeless. Everyone who sees this show will be able to relate to one or more characters. The younger audiences will empathize with Ta and San as they try to break with convention and lead their own lives. The older audience members will relate to the old adage of, "father knows best". And, of course, everyone will root for true love.
Jimmy: Likewise, I think that this play is very relevant today because it deals with people struggling to live in a multicultural world and reveals the different ways people react to their situations. I think that there is a clear message of tolerance and acceptance.
Rosie: Well, while some of it is quite dated and no longer politically correct, the main struggle in it--bridging the gap between generations--is an issue that will go on forever! I think that parents will always struggle with understanding their children and all the new things that come along while they're growing up. And we, as younger people, sometimes find it hard to accept certain traditions, etc. This show is very clever because it speaks to people of all ages. You have your young lovers, your children and your elders. So there's something for everyone!
Schema: Who is this story targeted towards and what would a non-Asian come away with?
Jimmy: I think that any person can appreciate this play because it relates to so many different people on so many different levels. The play deals with not only cultural differences, but generational gaps and all the crap that happens in a relationship between a man and a woman.
Lannette: The story is obviously written about Asian characters, but again, with the universal themes of parents raising children and of love, anyone who comes to see this show will relate to the story. That being said, non-Asian audience members will hopefully gain a little insight into where Eastern/Chinese traditions come from. Also, they should come away with the feeling that, regardless of ethnicity, we all go through the same struggles with self, family, obligations, love and resolving conflict.
Rosie: Again, the show is targeted at all crowds. There are the more traditional Chinese characters: Mei Li, Dr.Li, Master Wang and Madame Liang. But there's also the "westernized" characters: Sammy Fong, Linda Low, Wang Ta and Wang San. Non-Asian friends and former teachers have to come to the show and they've only had good things to say. I think, if anything, they learned a few things about Chinese culture. And I do like how the show illustrates that particular culture in a beautiful way, not as something to be mocked or laughed at.
Schema: What is the significance of having as Asian Canadian cast for Vancouver?
Rosie: The advantage of having an Asian cast in Vancouver is huge! It gives Asian actors a chance to really shine and show that there's a lot of talent in the Asian population here in Vancouver. And because the Asian population is so large in this city, it's time that people see what we can bring to the table as performers and directors. It's time that we're taken more seriously in show business. We can do more than giggle cutely behind our hands and bow to one another.
Lannette: In the past, Asian Canadians have not been fully encouraged to pursue the performing arts as actors. I have been lucky in that I have had supportive parents, especially as I was growing up. But as supportive as they were, they treated my acting as a hobby or pastime. Not because they were trying to discourage me, but only because that's how they knew the performing world--as a hobby. In my adulthood they have seen how driven I am to pursue acting as a career, and it is only now that they understand how much a part of my life this is. That, without acting, I'm not whole, and I wouldn't be the person I am. However, as new generations emerge, it is clear that acting is becoming a major part of our lives.
Jimmy: First of all, this performance shows Vancouver audiences that there are lots of talented Asian performers in town. Secondly, I think it can be a way of encouraging other Asians to try acting or letting their children be more involved in the arts. I know this is a generalization, but Asian families have a tendency to push their kids into "real" jobs even if they are meant for the stage. Hopefully, seeing Asians performing on stage will encourage these parents to accept their kids' passion to pursue a career that will likely require them to wait on tables and take on other odd but flexible secondary jobs, just so they could go out on auditions. Their kids may barely pay their rent and live on ramen noodles, but they'll be "happy".
Lannette: I'd like to say that Flower Drum Song has really been a great thing in providing an outlet for so many Asian actors. And the fact that VACT has chosen to stay true to the characters, by casting Asian actors for every role, shows just how far we have come in the acting community. Acting and performing is becoming a main, viable career choice for today's Asian Canadians.
> PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Schema: Have you had issues with success? As "ethnic actors", does success make it easier to accept who your are?
Lannette: I have not really had issues with acceptance as an ethnic actor. I do believe it is harder to make it, as opportunities are harder to come by, but I have always had a good sense of self and self worth, which pushes me forward. While I think there are fewer opportunities as an Asian actor in general, it's also because I'm an Asian actor that I have had a chance to do some of the roles I have. In the past, jobs have come up when directors were specifically casting an Asian role. But more and more these days there seems to be a trend towards having more of an open ethnicity when it comes to casting. Instead of specifying race, there are more roles that are open to interpretation. It is a slow moving trend for sure, but the movement is definitely there, which gives me hope of securing more roles in the future.
Rosie: As of this point, I don't believe I've had any huge issues with success, based on my race at least. I've definitely gotten it into my head a few too many times--and psyched myself out in thinking that I wouldn't get a certain part because I'm Asian. I've been very fortunate in the opportunities I've been given. In this particular case of Flower Drum Song, it makes it a lot easier to accept and be comfortable with who you are. For me, it's because I'm no longer being singled out as "that Asian-oriental girl". The show is being viewed and reviewed as a whole and not based on our ethnicity. The warm response to the show has made it such a great experience and it's not over yet! It's incredible to know that people have walked away from our show loving it and wanting to tell their friends. I really feel like we've achieved something big, even if it's just a start, for the Asian community in Vancouver.
Flower Drum Song runs until June 14th at The Waterfront Theatre in Gastown (Vancouver), British Columbia. For actor bios, visit vact.ca
