Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Christopher Chen’s compelling, gorgeously articulated PASSAGE intimately examines the dynamics of colonialism

• By drediman
• May 6, 2019
• No Comments

Purva Bedi, David Ryan Smith, K.K. Moggie, and Lizan Mitchell in Christopher Chen’s “Passage” at Soho Rep.
Photo by Julieta Cervantes.

Last night, Soho Rep’s gorgeous production of Passage by Christopher Chen opened Off-Broadway. The play uses E.M. Forster’s “A Passage to India” as a springboard to intimately examine the dynamics of colonialism in a fictitious country simply known as X, whose political power is being usurped by people from Y.

By removing specificity from the play’s setting and structuring the play through a series of brief, sketch-like encounters, Mr. Chen has risked penning a nondescript, dramatically limiting play. However, I found Passage tremendously compelling as a piece of theater, thanks largely to Mr. Chen’s considerable technical skill as a playwright. In his hands, Passage efficiently crystalizes highly nuanced issues and situations with scalpel-like precision, resulting in pointedly realized scenes that collectively paint a panorama of shifting relationships and allegiances. Suffice to say, Mr. Chen’s play drew me almost immediately with their superbly articulated narrative and perspectives.

Passage has been helmed by up-and-coming director Saheem Ali, who brings an appropriately meditative neutrality — to the extent possible — to Mr. Chen’s play. Indeed, for the production, Walkerspace has been transformed into some sort of immersive, vaguely-set temple (audience members are required to take their shoes before entering the “temple”), where all is welcome. From a design perspective, the production is outstanding, thanks to set designer Arnulfo Maldonado (whose work on generations by Debbie Tucker Green in the same space was so memorable), lighting designer Amith Chandrashaker, and sound designer Mikaal Sulaiman. Last but not least, the superb cast of eight bring tremendous transparency and humanity to their carefully delineated roles.

HIGHY RECOMMENDED

PASSAGE
Off-Broadway, Play
Soho Rep
1 hour, 30 minutes (without an intermission)
Through May 26