A BUSY DECEMBER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
A BUSY DECEMBER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
BY Gerrye wong December 12, 2022
For the holidays, THEATREWORKS SILICON VALLEY kicked off a riotous show LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and made it especially enticing to me because they reset it in San Francisco’s Chinatown. When we entered the theater, we saw a mural wall with images of Bruce Lee and Anna May Wong to set the scene. Spotlighting multicultural casting, director Jeffrey Lo moved the setting to Chinatown to explore the cross-cultural community fostered there by marginalized people of color. Once popular as a cult movie and performed in theaters all over the nation, TheatreWorks will welcome patrons to enjoy a fun evening during the holidays for family (over 13) to December 24.
Our group of play-goers, following the show, stopped to look at some of Arthur Genthe photos that had been put on display along with some information gathered about the history of San Francisco’s Chinatown from the mid 1800s era.
We were pleased to meet Phil Wong who stars as Seymur Krelborn, the florist wo makes the Faustian bargain with a vicious plant whose culinary taste is bloody human flesh. Found out Phil is an Oakland native whose own roots go back to the turn of the century, with family owning restaurants and pharmacies in the East Bay. Wong himself is a seasoned Bay Area-based theatre artist, writer and musician, receiving his theatre training at the Accademia dell’ Arte in Arezzzo, Italy, no less. Seen in many west coast theater productions, Phil Wong is also a co-founder of Bay Area Theatre Cypher. This offbeat musical, narrated through doo-wop ditties by a trio of neighborhood girls, features meek florist Seymour who finds himself catapulted into instant celebrity when he finds and cultivates an otherworldly highly unusual plant. The plant’s growth, voice and movement was one of the funniest highlights of the show, I thought.
An alumni of TheatreWorks production of M. Butterfly and Pacific Overtures, Lawrence-Michael C. Arias played Mr. Mushnik, the owner of the Chinatown failing flower shop and we all found his performance amusing and well done. Fun to meet the delightful young man from Cupertino and hope to see him in more local productions in the future.
The egotistical sadistic dentist was played by Nick Nakashima who showed his versatility playing many of the other characters who streamed in and out of the play. He also has been seen many times in local theater productions in San Jose and Los Altos, and another fine actor we hope to enjoy in future shows.
KATRINA LAUREN MCGRAW PLAYED THE COICE OF AUDREY II, THE VICIOUS PLANT SEEN BEHIND GERRYE, MAELENE WONG AND EVA WONG.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, led presently by Artistic Director Tim Bond, has always been a favorite for the wide variety of contemporary plays and musicals it has presented since its founding in 1970. I applaud its championship of new works, offering artists support, and notably in the Asian sector. I remember seeing well known New York actor Francis Jue many, many years ago in the TheatreWorks production of M Butterfly and Cabaret, and enjoying many Asian themed plays throughout the past decades. With its home base at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto, check out its future offerings for the 2022-2023 season. Masked safety requirements were in order, and assisted listening devices are available at every performance.
DINING AT ITS BEST
Never before has San Jose had such a unique restaurant as ICHINA in the Westfield Center, formerly named Valley Fair where it is located in the mall’s most popular new food section. Holding a premier two story space edged by famed Shake Shack and Cheesecake Factory and surrounded by other popular eateries, IChina surpasses all in its beautiful ambiance and setting. One can easily see that a lot of thought and creativity was put into IChina’s décor and embellishments, and the nine diners with me agreed IChina was a beautiful place to enjoy dinner.
Attention to detail and service was tops and our signature tasting menu for $108 produced unique presentations. Check website for other tasting menu selections and price. Our appetizer selection of four steam dim sum selection came in the form of a squid dumpling, scallop siu mai, Chinese chive dumpling and har gow. Next was my favorite of a soft shell crab salad served over green Smith apple awash in wasabi apple dressing, followed by Thai fried seabass, stir-fried black pepper beef tenderloin, stir-fried lotus roots with asparagus and wok-friend hand pulled noodle with shitake mushrooms. The dining room was filled with patrons of all ages, showing IChina has something to please everyone who wants to dine in elegant surroundings with over-the-top service staff at your beck and call. Info@ichinaresturant.com. Recommend reservations for lunch/dinner and their new offering, Teatime in the afternoon.
CHI AM CIRCLE INSTALLS 2023 BOARD
My life has revolved around the Chi Am Circle, an Asian women’s club, since a group of 10 women, including myself, started it as a social club way back in 1965. What started as just a group of new-found friends who had just moved to Santa Clara Valley and wanted to form as a way of meeting other Chinese young brides and mothers to make arts and crafts (and escape young babies/kids at home) once a month, has evolved 57 years later into a more active service oriented group. Now it has service projects to serve the community needs, the main one being one of awarding scholarships to high school seniors, another giving parties for autistic children who belong to the Friends of Children With Special Needs group, another providing needed school supplies or back packs to schools, or warm blankets to those in need. Having just left the Board, wanted to share some photos from the Appreciation dinner given to the 2022 Board at the end of their year, and more from the Installation Luncheon that brought in the 2023 leaders.
2023 PRESIDENTS SHARON LAI AND NIKKI CHOW CHI AM MEMBERS AND OUTDOING PRESIDENT SYLVIA ENG
A highly organized group, both were well attended to say good-bye and welcome to the new leaders of the club. Thank you to Chi Am Circle for giving me lifelong friendships and for honoring my longevity service to the club by presenting me a check for one of my favorite charities I support, the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, at the Installation lunch last week. My 55 years with the club has brought many good memories and friends thanks to Chi Am Circle. New members always welcome — and I highly recommend anyone seeking friendships while serving community causes to join. Happy to sponsor you – just let me know.
Welcome to 2023 Board of Directors Co Presidents Nikki Chow & Sharon Lai, VP of Sponsorship Teddy Sue. Co-Vic-presidents of Membership Angie Chiu & Juliet Sham, Secretary Mary K. Lim, Treasurer Shirley Pak, Programs Liza Wong, Hospitality Judy Wong, Historian Mabel Thong, Auditor Debbie Gong-Guy, Webmaster Wendy Tsoi and Parliamentarian Sylvia Eng.
CHI AM CIRCLE 2022 APPRECIATION END OF YEAR DINNER
