Forbidden City Blues

What do a crazy Russian general, an American consul who likes to dress as a clown, and a blind, Black blues singer have in common? Alexander Woo puts them together in Beijing in a new comedy, Forbidden City Blues. From his wheelchair, Blind Amos Cunningham (Jose Ramon Rosario) supplies ironic commentary on people and politics to introduce each scene (music by Ken Weiler, lyrics by Woo). An unsuspecting American couple -- Mandarin-speaking Alice (Kate Chaston) and naive Chinese-American Raymond (Rick Ebihara) -- land right in the vortex of an arch scheme. Succumbing to the wiles of Monica (Fay Ann Lee), Raymond wakes up to find he has become an Anglo named Whiteman (played by Scott C. Reeves). This is China's revenge for the U.S.' top-secret Anglo-to-Chinese makeovers engineered during the Cold War. The operation is a success, thanks to efforts of General Pavlov (Peter Von Berg) and the Chinese Assistant Premier (Les J.N. Mau). Not to be outfoxed, Alice and American consul Mrs. Hamilton (Julia McLaughlin as her alias Giggles, the wonder clown) have tracked Raymond down, but liberating him proves a greater challenge. Confronted by the two ladies' determination, the men return Raymond back to a Chinese ethnic look, only a different one (Perry Yung as Mr. Hu). The Americans roll with the punches and in the end take up the offer of resettlement under the Witness Protection Program.

Woo uses classic comic situations and pokes fun at stereotypes to say that in getting back to your ethnic roots like Raymond tried, you may get more than you bargained for. The identity dilemmas of Oriental-Americans are far more complex than this comedy allows, but a good laugh is sometimes the best way to begin a serious discussion.

Ron Nakahara's direction nicely underlines Woo's intent. Among the players, Julia McLaughlin takes top honors for great timing and superb delivery. Peter Von Berg and Les J.N. Mau turn Woo's setups into instant laughter, but how can you flop with a wily beaver as the official's demanding pet? Yoshi Tanokura adds some lovely painted backdrops of the Great Wall, which Alice and Raymond never see because of more pressing business.