The story is about Gao Hlee, a Hmong personality coach who for various reasons is trying to lose her virginity before she turns thirty. Her newest client Benedict Song is a Korean businessman, the heir to a huge company, who is in the Twin Cities to take care of their new Midwest office. He is everything she expects due to her addiction to Korean Dramas. (sidebar: Korean Dramas are Korean soap operas with a lot more supernatural aspects, fantasy, and cancer compared to American soap operas. I have never seen one but am excited to start watching them after seeing this show!) The initial meet-up between the two is a clash of cultures - rich/middle-class, American/Korean, Korean/Hmong, President of a company/lowly personality coach. So many differences to play with and explore. The script by May Lee-Yang does it all. She has written great characters that are well rounded, yet also fit into many of the K-Drama tropes that Gao Hlee brings up. She also plays with Midwest (specifically Minnesotan) stereotypes - the subtle/not-so-subtle racism, the passive-aggressive qualities, etc. None of it is written to hit you over the head, but to make you laugh while possibly cringing a little. A perfect combination of comedy and social commentary. Before you think Lee-Yang only deals with Minnesotan stereotypes, I want to tell you that she also deals with a lot of Asian stereotypes - how different Asian cultures see other Asian cultures. All the writing came off as very honest and true, but also with a wink and a giggle. I look forward to seeing more shows written by her.
The production and performances are fantastic. Despite a few small tweaks I would make to the direction, Randy Reyes helms this 54th World Premiere with deft and very funny hands. After two years of development, he knows where the humor is in the script, as well as where the heart is and directs it so both are crystal clear. The cast was spot-on. Gao Hlee (played by Dexieng Yang) is honest about her goals, but is also very honest about how she wants to reach that goal. She may be a K-Drama addict but she doesn't live her life as if it were a soap opera. Benedict (portrayed by Brian Kim) is everything you could want in a leading man. Handsome, rich, classist, rude, voice like an angel... and Brian plays him perfectly. He shows us not just the caricature but the true character behind it, and you can see the change that is taking place in the character. The secondary leads were perfect foils for Gao and Benedict, but also great characters in and of themselves. Secretary Kim, and Z (played by Clay Man Soo and Khadija Siddiqui respectively) may have been written as foils for Gao and Benedict, but they are great characters in and of themselves. Both of them helping others to be more honest and grow. Madame Song (played by Katie Bradley), and Mom (played by Phasoua Vang) were spot on in their characterizations of loving but slightly over-the-top mothers. Rounding out the cast were Park Mirae (played by Joann Oudekerk), Tou Mong (played by Gregory Yang), and the ensemble members Yeej Moua, and Mai See Lee. These last six actors did a lot of the very fluid set changes, while also playing other small roles. Trust me, that is not an easy thing to do yet each character was distinct and perfectly played. A great cast, and a great production that I have been recommending to everyone I have talked to since I saw it opening night. Do not miss this!
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