Palo Alto Players is performing a new play called “Chinglish (Chinese English)” opening in June. If you want to understand cultural misunderstanding between Chinese and Americans and the big role language plays in that misunderstanding, this play might be of interest to you.

Palo Alto Players is performing a new play called “Chinglish (Chinese English)” opening in June. If you want to understand cultural misunderstanding between Chinese and Americans and the big role language plays in that misunderstanding, this play might be of interest to you.

Ticket Link: http://www.paplayers.org/our-shows/on-stage-now/ Please use discount code JLIU for $5 discount. Let me know which day you are going if you decided to go. I can help coordinate car-pool for people.

CHINGLISH brings you the story of Daniel, an American businessman who sees a chance to expand his family’s sign-making business in China, where public signage is often hilariously mistranslated from Mandarin to English. Common signs like “slippery slopes ahead” become “take notice of safe: the slippery are very crafty”, which causes great embarrassment to the high-ranking government officials looking to hire Daniel’s company. But as the misinterpretations pile up, this business deal isn’t the only thing getting lost in translation. Linguistic and cultural confusions abound in this hilarious mash-up of English and Chinese, especially as Daniel begins to fall in love with the one woman he absolutely cannot have.

June 13 – 28, 2015 – Preview June 12
Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm

Running Time: approximately 2 hours including a 15-minute intermission

Age Recommendation: Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

Read more about CHINGLISH below.

SPECIAL EVENTS!

On Opening Night, Saturday, June 13th, enjoy a post-show Afterglow reception with complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres while meeting the cast.
Complimentary with the purchase of a ticket for that evening’s performance.

Enjoy our Talkback series led by Artistic Director Patrick Klein with Show Director Lily Tung Crystal and members of the cast following the performances on
Thursdays, June 18th and June 25th.
Complimentary with the purchase of a ticket for any performance during the run.

CAST/PRODUCTION TEAM

MISS QIAN/PROSECUTOR LI – Dianna Chung

XI YAN – Joyce Liu

DANIEL CAVANAUGH – Chris Mahle

PETER TIMMS – Michael McCune

MINISTER CAI GUOLIANG – Jeffrey Sun

ZHAO / HOTEL MANAGER / TEA SERVER / WAITER / BARTENDER – Isabel To

BING / JUDGE XU GEMING / RESTAURANT CUSTOMER / WAITER / DRIVER – Phil Wong

DIRECTOR – Lily Tung Crystal

SCENIC DESIGNER – Kuo-Hao Lo

COSTUME DESIGNER – Sharon Peng

LIGHTNING DESIGNER – Nick Kumamoto

SOUND DESIGNER – Jeff Grafton

PROPERTIES MANAGER – Pat Tyler

HAIR/MAKEUP DESIGNER – Shiboune Thill

STAGE MANAGER – Aya Matsutomo

MANAGING DIRECTOR – Diana Lynn Wiley

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – Patrick Klein

What is the story of CHINGLISH?
In an effort to drum up contracts for his sign-making company, American businessman Daniel Cavanaugh travels to Guiyang, China and pitches his services to the city’s Minister of Culture.  The city is building a new cultural center, and Cavanaugh is selling his ability to both manufacture the signage and ensure that the English translations are correct.  With the help of a Western expatriate as his business consultant, he negotiates the tricky waters of Chinese business etiquette, but he must handle the romantic customs on his own.

What is CHINGLISH like?
Since as much of the dialogue in CHINGLISH is in Chinese as in English, subtitles are projected directly onto the set.  Thus, the integration of the two languages is kept as seamless as possible for the audience while keeping the feeling of a fish-out-of-water story intact.  The miscommunication, by English speakers botching Chinese pronunciation or Chinese interpreters making bizarrely literal translations of English, is a running joke in the show.  Rotating sets keep the scene shifts fast and fluid, so the action never stalls.

*Is CHINGLISH good for kids?
Are your kids interested in subtitled movies?  They will probably do fine at CHINGLISH.  Some of the misunderstandings that go along with culture clash, like different concepts of respect and love, will be lost on younger kids.  Two characters end up in bed together, and though there is no nudity, be prepared to explain infidelity.