There was a period in December where it felt like every show I saw was the one of the best shows of the year. There was Christmas at the Local, two Christmas at Pemberley plays, and A Christmas Carol at the James J. Hill House, to name a few. Now it feels like it’s Christmas in July. I swear every show I’ve seen lately has been a must see. Theater Mu continues the streak of must see shows with their World premiere of Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay’s The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals. But saying it’s a must see show in this case, actually means two things. Firstly, it’s so good that you do not want to miss it. Secondly, it’s so unlike anything you’ve ever seen in a play that you have to see it for yourself. The title, doubles as plot description. It is as advertised, you may have thought there would be some bait and switch at play, there isn’t, everyone was kung fu fighting.
The play is really two stories set in the same world. Act I follows Arun, a young woman from a village in Laos, who is destined to be a Shaman like her Grandmother. Disaster strikes when sun fire rains down upon the earth creating destruction and raising the dead. Arun must reconnect with the powers she tried to deny, save her sister from the evil Mara as well as zombies and cannibals. Act II follows Sika who travels from Minnesota to Laos during this same period to bring the ashes of her parents to the village they came from. She struggles to deal with the memories of those she couldn’t save while finding a way to move on. This apocalyptic world of The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals is filled with metaphors, but like the best metaphors it can be enjoyed without making all of the connections. A multi-layered script from Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay deals with heavy issues but it does so indirectly dressed in the clothes of a action horror dramedy. It’s wildly entertaining while also touching on issues of mental illness, colonialism, and generation trauma caused by the still clear and present danger caused by undetonated bombs dropped on Laos by the US military.
It’s an impressive cast many of them making their Theater Mu and professional mainstage debuts. Hannah Nguyen is one of those, she plays Arun in Act I. I was impressed by her transformation from the the pre-catastrophe girl to the Shaman Warrior she has become by the end of the Act. Michelle De Joya plays Sika, the hero of Act II, the physicality and intensity she brings to the role is one of the greatest joys of this fantastic production. Other standouts include Sandy Agustin as Mae Thao (Arun’s Grandmother the Village Shaman) in Act I and as the old Woman in Act II. Soudavone Khamvongsa who in Act II plays what at first seems like an antagonist but later becomes Sika’s Ally in another amazingly physical performance. Finally, a shout out to Enormvs Munoz who plays Arun’s father in and I believe the Monkey King in Act I and Slim,. a Buddhist Monk in Act II, each character distinct, so much so that I had to consult my program to be sure I was correct in assigning him to all of those roles. Payton J. Woodson as Principal Butcher and the Buddhist Monk Loc in Act II. Woodson’s delivery in both roles is wise, but also deadpan funny, his and Munoz’s handshake routine is a showstopper.
The production is being staged in the Luminary Arts Center in Downtown Minneapolis in the North Loop area. Somehow in 4 years of blogging I had never been there, which is shocking because it’s a beautiful space, why it isn’t used more is a mystery. The space is needed as this show is epic. Director Lily Tung Crystal fills the space with Mina Kinukawa spralling set onto and around which Miko Simmons adds his brilliant projections to create a real sense of place and a larger world. I was really amazed at the scope of the entire production. I’m used to Theater Mu’s more modest productions, this felt like we were in Guthrie territory budget wise. Every aspect of the show from the lighting by Karin Olson and sound Design by Akiem Scott, which had a hip-hop crossed with a Quentin Tarantino movie vibe, worked perfectly together under Crystal’s sure handed direction. Lastly, the Fight Choreography by Allen Malicsi with assistance from Laura Anderson was off the hook. Act I was super cool with the fights much more physical and frequent than I was expecting. I was looking forward to more of the same in Act II, and then Act II began and well that’s part of where the “Holy F*cking Sh!t!!!!!” comes from in this blog title. I’ve never seen such prolonged, frequent, and well executed combat in a stage play before. Lily Tung Crystal has harnessed every tool at her disposal to create a theatrical event unlike anything I’ve seen before and that fully realizes the ambitious script by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay.
Theater Mu’s world Premiere production of The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals runs through August 13th at The Luminary Arts Center. This is one of those productions that you really will regret not seeing. People who see it will be referencing it for years to come. You don’t want to be left out in the cold two years from now when someone says, “Somehow, they all know motherf*cking kung fu”, and everyone laughs except you. For more information, to purchase tickets, and to learn more about Theater Mu, which is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this season as one of the countries largest Asian American Theater companies go to https://www.theatermu.org/kfz-saga. In these days when all theater companies are struggling there are some theater companies that particularly need our support because of the unique role they play in our community. Theater Mu is one of those, one that gives a voice to an underrepresented segment of our society. They are telling stories that celebrate and expand all of our understanding of the Asian American community. It’s important, and so I encourage you, if you have the means to do so find the donation button on their website and help ensure they are around making great theater for another 30 seasons.
***checkout the latest episode of Twin Cities Theater Chat where Blogger Laura Van Zandt chats with playwright Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay and actor Michelle de Joya about the play you can find it by clicking here https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13149765
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