TEA is a play that has been in production for the last 40 years. Written by Velina Hasu Houston, the story is a photograph of the lives of Japanese women that married American soldiers during the American occupation of Japan.
Adjusting to the American way of life proved to be a challenge for the five women portrayed in this play. It wasn’t just moving to America, it was moving to rural Kansas in the late ’60s, not exactly the most welcoming environment for Asians, specially the ones coming from Japan. This was the time and place where they had to face not just racism but also the consequent isolation that comes with it.
After Himiko (Tomoko Karina) kills her husband and commits suicide, the other four wives come together to clean her house and perform a tea ceremony. It is then that the individual stories and personalities of these women are revealed in great detail. An arrogant Atsuko (Hua Lee) thinks that because she is married to a Japanese American, she is better than the rest, Chizuye Juarez (Elaine Ackles) married a Mexican American and is the most assimilated of the group, Teruko (Olivia Cordell) married a white man, and Setsuko (Hiroko Imai) married an African American. The challenges to assimilate to America included things such as falling off the bed because is inches above ground level, learning how to use an American style toilette, learning how to drive a car into an automatic car wash, etc. Aside from those nuisances, the most disturbing side of the experience was Americans’ attitudes toward these Japanese wives. They were seen as a trophy to the triumph over Japan, some sort of second class citizens that were not welcomed, as they represented the enemy.
Under those circumstances, the tea ceremony was a connection to Japan to these women, even if the American assimilation meant to shed their Japanese identities. Meeting over tea was a way to pick up their pieces and honor the memory of Himiko, whose real struggles both in Japan and America are revealed during the meeting. The five actresses portray the point of view of the wives, husbands, and kids of these interracial marriages.
We can see some hints of traditional Japanese theatre, specifically Nō, throughout this western contemporary play. The mask, the spirit of Himiko, the kimonos, the singing, and perhaps even the stairs working as the bridge are beautiful elements of Japan and its legendary theatre that has enriched the culture and lives of people in Japan and all over the world. The work of lighting designer Azra King-Abadi is extraordinary. The contrast in lighting reinforces the dramatic lives of these five women; the use of blues, reds, and oranges mirror the conflicts and emotions experienced by the characters. The costume design by Maggie Dick is also excellent as it offers a glimpse to the ’60s fashion in America and the meaningful monochromatic Japanese kimonos. The music and sound design by Dean Harada highlight the suspense and drama of the various stages of the characters’ lives both in Japan and America, making the audience more involved in the story.
TEA
Written by Velina Hasu Houston, directed by Rebecca Wear, produced by Gabe Figueroa, and presented by Hero Theatre, artistic director Elisa Bocanegra.
Hero Theatre, company-in-residence at the
Rosenthal Theater
Inner-City Arts
720 Kohler Street
Los Angeles, CA 90021
Performances: April 23 – May 15
• Thursdays at 8 p.m.: April 21 (Preview), April 28, May 5, May 12
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: April 22 (Preview), April 29, May 6, May 13
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: April 23 (Opening Night), April 30, May 7, May 14
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: April 24, May 1, May 8, May 15
• Sundays at 7 p.m.: May 1, May 8, May 15 (dark April 24)
Tickets: http://www.herotheatre.org/tea.html
