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Review - SIDES:
The Fear is Real
Review by Erin Quill, Special to IMDiversity
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Actors. Auditions. Agony.
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Seen:
Opening Night, August 25, 2005
Where: The Culture Project
45 Bleecker Street
NYC
www.tickemaster.com or 212 307-4100
www.mrmiyagi.com
Starring: Sekiya Billman, Jane Cho, Paul H. Juhn, Peter Kim,
Hoon Lee, and Rodney To
Directed by: Anne Kauffman
Written by: Sekiya Billman, Cindy Cheung, Paul H., Juhn, Peter
Kim, Hoon Lee, and Rodney To
SIDES: The Fear is Real is sometimes too real for those
of us who have had to face the racial inequality that runs the entertainment
industry. Actors caught in the awkward positions of fighting stereotype
while trying to work is not funny for those of us who live it day to day
but if you walk a mile in the Pumas of the Mr. Miyagi Theatre Company,
its a laugh riot.
Rather than wait around for opportunity, the original six sat down in
2001 and created projects -- for themselves.
What began as a show they thought would cater to family and friends went
on to win Best Ensemble at the 2003 NY Fringe Theater
Festival. They have also been lauded in newspapers such as the
New York Times, Variety, and The Wall Street Journal.
The sheer insanity of the situations these actors find themselves in
is matched by their comedic talents. Insane flop sweat, rival acting
conservatories, devil-possessed casting
directors, and a tour de force of a controlling playwright trying
to mold his vision brought the house down time after time.
No one is spared;
Mr. Miyagi is an equal opportunity offender, and its about damn time!
We have all seen shows where racial issues are faced head on,
but with varying results. What sets these
actors apart is not their ethnicity, it is their talent. They are
exactly what Asian America should be supporting they make their points
with rapier sharp wit, skewering the industry, their own vanity, and the
viewing public who time and time again accepts stereotype when
confronted by the ethnic actor. It is evident to anyone who attends that
these actors are the future of Asian American acting, and rest assured
the future looks bright.
A hilarious triumph, SIDES is everything we wish sketch comedy
could be well scripted, well acted, well produced it will leave you
breathless with laughter. Though the company is exceptionally strong,
performances by Kim, Lee and To walked away with most of the belly
laughs.
Interesting to note SIDES is, for the first time, being
produced by the Mr. Miyagi Theatre Company itself.
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Erin May Ling Quill
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 Erin
May Ling Quill is an actress, singer, director and producer of
both stage and film productions. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon, she
was member of the original Broadway cast of the 2004 TONY
Award-winning musical, Avenue Q, and has also played Lady Thiang in The King & I opposite Debby Boone. Other credits
include NYPD Blue, girlsclub, China Dolls,
Godspell, Anything Goes, and numerous workshops. Former
Vice Chair for the Screen Actors' Guild Asian American Subcommittee
and a member on its National EEOC, she consulted on the revision of
the Asian Language Contract. She is a member of East West Players
and Lodestone Theater Ensemble. In addition to her own sold-out
shows They Shoot Asian Fosse Dancers, Don't They? and When
My Slanted Eyes are Smiling, I Can't See a Damn Thing, Quill has
produced Lodestone Theater Ensemble/FOX's All American APA Comedy
Jam and, most recently, the upcoming short film POLLEN,
starring Alec Mapa. She recently shot a pilot the Bravo pilot,
Dishin'. Recent and upcoming projects include the pilot of
Screening
Party, based on the book by Dennis Hensley, and Associate Producer credit on the
film, The Sensei, a
new feature by D. Lee Inosanto. Learn more at
Erinquill.com.
IMDiversity.com is committed to presenting diverse points of view.
However, the viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of
the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or
employees at IMD.
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