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ARTS REVIEW: THE CHINESE MASSACRE (ANNOTATED)

Tom Jacobson Retells the Lynching of 18 Chinese Men in 1871 Los Angeles

By: Parimal M. Rohit
April 25, 2011

Elizabeth Ho and Ryan Yu in 'The Chinese Massacre (Annotated)' on buzzine.comThe Circle X Theatre Co. goes back in time to the days before Hollywood, as Tom Jacobson’s The Chinese Massacre (Annotated) opens here at the Atwater Village Theater and runs through May 28th. A gripping tale recounting the first race riot in Los Angeles, The Chinese Massacre uniquely chronicles the lynching of 18 Chinese men “by a mob of 500 ‘people from all nations’” on October 24, 1871, and features an ensemble cast of: Richard Azurdia, Warrant Davis, Anna Douglas, Elizabeth Ho, Ross Kurt Le, Jully Lee, Alex Levin, West Liang, Johanna McKay, Silas Weir Mitchell, Gary Patent, Jack Sochet, Lisa Tharps, Marie-Françoise Theodore, and Ryan Yu.

 
Jacobson’s stage production is unique in how it presents one of the darkest moments in Los Angeles history. While racial tensions have occasionally marred the city and region for many generations since the violent chain of events that occurred near present-day Union Station, what makes The Chinese Massacre so interesting is in how it balances factual history with intense theatrical storytelling.
 
Indeed, The Chinese Massacre, set in the plaza that neighbors Olvera Street and is now considered the birthplace of Los Angeles, opens to the audience a window to a city defined as much by its Wild Wild West ways as well as its diverse ways, despite being one of the smallest towns in the United States.
 
By delving into the 1871 race riots, The Chinese Massacre essentially places rather earthy perspective on the overall history of racial tensions in the City of Angels, what with the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots, 1965 Watts Riots, and 1992 Rodney King “insurrection.” What is it about Los Angeles that allowed for not one but four moments of futility in just over a century? How is it Los Angeles could be the home of so many metaphorical black eyes, despite the city’s late growth and maturation as a legitimate metropolis? (Remember, the population of Los Angeles in 1871 was, according to official census figures, roughly 6,000.)
 
In asking these questions, both Jacobson and the production fall short of providing answers. Ultimately, The Chinese Massacre ponders the question that seemed to elude just about everyone who manages to interact with the myth that is “Los Angeles.” In a city of hopes and dreams, what is the true identity of individual souls who make up the eventual monolithic region?
 
Anna Douglas and Lisa Tharps in 'The Chinese Massacre (Annotated)' on buzzine.comNaturally, it is up to the audience to decide for themselves how to answer these questions. Thankfully, The Chinese Massacre is so gripping and compelling, just about all those questions can be held until the proverbial fat lady sings. (Rest assured, there are no singing fat ladies in this production.)
 
Ever the intriguing production, The Chinese Massacre is borderline epic in how it brings to life the essence of what actually happened on that fateful evening in Los Angeles. Perfectly put on display is the rich diversity L.A. experienced even in its heyday -- a Wild West outpost with a population small enough to comfortably populate Catalina Island. Just the same, albeit the rich diversity featuring residents belting in native tongues such as Spanish, Cantonese, English, French, and German, racial tensions were as heightened in 1871 as they were in 1992.
 
It helps to have a cast of 14 portraying 42 different roles, each individual drawing upon his or her unique background to bring a perspective to the characters in such a way to allow for optimal accentuation of ethnic authenticity.
 
Accordingly, one must view the acting performances of The Chinese Massacre as a unified whole with distinctive flavor instead of an archipelago of islands loosely viewed as a bland body. That being said, Mr. Yu is first-rate in his portrayals of Gene Tong, Yo Hing, and Sam Yuen, while Mr. Tharps is touchingly powerful, switching back and forth between liberated slave Biddy Mason and superbly informative annotator, providing the audience with timely “footnotes.”
 
Other memorable performances were also delivered by Mr. Azurdia (who was an annotator in addition to playing five roles), and Ms. Lee as annotator and the essential character Tong Yu.
 
Of course, there is little, if any, criticism that may be made of those who starred in The Chinese Massacre, as the collective unit of actors not only brings such a gripping story to life in the most powerful manner possible, but also leaves the audience emotionally drained.
 
Warren Davis and Ryan Wu in 'The Chinese Massacre (Annotated)' on buzzine.comThe set lends itself to the overall look and feel of being in 1871 Los Angeles, complete with sights and sounds one would expect to envision in the late 19th century.
 
Commissioned by Circle X Theatre Co. in 2006 and workshopped in 2008, The Chinese Massacre seamlessly integrates factual footnotes and cited annotations into an intriguing narrative of one of the darkest days in Los Angeles history. 
 
Directed by Jeff Liu, the production is currently playing at the 99-seat Atwater Village Theater through May 28th, with shows on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
 
Tickets are $25 for evening shows; Sunday matinees are pay-as-you-go.
 
Atwater Village Theatre is located at 3269 Casitas Avenue in Los Angeles; the box office may be reached at (213) 368-9552.