The new show title at the Northlight Theater in Scoki is “The Heart Sellers”, a Riff I believe in the 1965 Heart-Seller Act, which is the foundation of the Still-Corresponds System of American immigration, which ends a pre-quota system Had done Potential immigrants’ skills and family relations and purpose were (in contemporary terms of President Lindon Johnson) “Those who can contribute the most in this country – for its growth, for their strength, for their feelings.”
The playwright Lloyd Suh’s play, which was on the road in the Milwauki Repertary Theater in 2023, does not discuss the federal law. Instead, it is a 90 -minute comedy set during Thanksgiving 1973 and focused on two documented American immigrants, one from Korea and one from the Philippines, who meet in a grocery store and with each other (and imbibe) -With the other and on their shared experience. As new people to the United States. This is a task designed to sympathy and create sympathy for Asian American immigrants: two young women, Luna (Aja Alkaar) and Jane (Seoong Park) are alone, unprotected and nervous to somewhat unfamiliar American customs , But whip kills, which are amazed. The new land is to introduce it more than ready to experience more.
I imagine that Northlight programmed this piece as a counterpoint for all the problems around the immigration: There is never any doubt for a moment that two women, whose first day we are watching, their Will contribute a lot to the new house. And if you have put yourself in the rhetoric of all the current scorched Earth, it is a lot of refreshing about reminding that the immigration was seen more as an opportunity for all sides of the bargaining.
Suh’s play is modest in structural ambition and, to be honest, it carries its friend-comedy theme beyond its natural boundaries. Sometimes, I found myself craving to be something more in real time, beyond the nuances of the character and still beyond worries about frozen turkey. If ever used to play two-people in the need of a third character, it is that drama. The director Helen Young’s production is some of the omphs at the end of the production, but, to be frank, it sounds like a sudden coda than an organic resolution where the play is running with all. Suh had a great and well -considered idea for this drama, but you quickly understand its view and need to be beyond some more surprise.
More happily, the two artists you are looking at on the soft set of John Kulbert is really attractive.
Alakzar is a living wire that gives its energy to production. Park, a Korean-born actor who came to Chicago to study for the first time, emerging as an important comic talent in the city (I comment on Aadhaar that I see him late in many shows; Park Experimental Theater There is a contingent of artists known in the experimental theater). She is a skilled physical comedian in such a sketch-comedy tradition, but she is also an old school in a variety of reactions, which she can provide, often in a fascinating way, and she pays a large amount of attention She pays her. Costar is saying here. The park can create a national impact well.
For one night out of Scoki, I want the show to focus on achieving hard laughs, connecting specific details, building dramatic stress and thus deepening their affectionate images of valuable new Americans, understanding that What they have given, but also have to learn from their way. ,
Chris Jones is a tribune critic.
cjones5@chicagotribune.com
Review: “The Heart Sellers” (2.5 stars)
When: Through 23 February
Where: Northlight Theater in the North Shor Center for the Arts, 9501 Sc butki Blawd, Skoki
Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Tickets: $ 49- 847-673-6300 and Northlight.ORG at $ 49- $ 91