2002 revival Flower Drum Song

virginia theatre marquee showing flower drum song

the success of los angeles run sparked sufficient investment move show broadway. half cast dismissed after los angeles run unstated reasons. mary rodgers later commented randall duk kim replaced tzi ma wang because had admired kim s performance kralahome in 1996 revival of king , i, kim unavailable los angeles run. hwang considerably altered , trimmed long script during broadway rehearsals , previews; next time happens removed show. during runup broadway opening, show received positive publicity.

opening night @ virginia theatre on october 17, 2002 attended veterans of film , 1958 production. though received warm applause audience, critics panned it. attendance near-capacity during first month of run, dropped off precipitously. producers hoped show hold out long enough boost tony awards (though nominated three, including best book, won none), in february, announced show close on march 16, 2003, after 169 performances. show s backers lost entire investment.

the production directed , choreographed longbottom, scenic design robin wagner, costume design gregg barnes , lighting design natasha katz. critic karen wada, in afterword published script, blamed sluggish economy, post-september 11 jitters, new york times mixed review, , unusually bitter winter weather unexpectedly short run. lee felt influential times review had hurt show s acceptance, commented hwang added dialogue act ii after los angeles run lee felt slowed show down. closing followed national tour garnered mixed reviews, although hwang stated received in every city except new york.

subsequent productions have favored hwang script, although older version remains available license , has received occasional revivals, including 2006 staged concert part of ian marshall fisher s lost musicals series. review in london s times compared production grander production of show boat docked @ albert hall , judged flower drum song makes more stimulating experience.

2002 plot

prologue: in 1960, wu mei-li, performer in chinese opera, flees china flower drum after father dies in prison defying communists ( hundred million miracles ).

act i: on arrival in united states, mei-li goes golden pearl theatre in san francisco s chinatown, little-attended chinese opera presented father s old friend wang chi-yang , wang s foster brother chin. 1 night week, wang s son ta turns theater nightclub, starring assimilated linda low, chinese-american stripper seattle. linda s constant companion gay costume designer, harvard (so named success-obsessed chinese parents). nightclub profitable; chinese opera not. mei-li joins opera company ( going here ) , attracted indifferent ta, favors linda. mei-li fascinated linda, urges adopt american lifestyle ( enjoy being girl ). linda signed talent agent rita liang, pushes wang turn theater club full-time ( grant avenue ), , reluctantly opens club chop suey.

ta becoming attracted mei-li, serves waitress, has competition fortune cookie factory worker chao, whom mei-li met on slow journey china, , rapidly becoming discontented america. wang unhappy, despite club s success, , no consolation crowd having time – after all, in old country, no crowd ever came theater expecting enjoy themselves. outraged @ harvard s poor acting skills, wang takes stage in place, stage instincts take on ( gliding through memories ), , enthusiastic supporter of change, taking stage name sammy fong. linda advises mei-li put on 1 of old stripper dresses attract ta, stratagem backfires, since ta attracted mei-li because of wholesomeness. ta , mei-li quarrel; takes flower drum , leaves club chop suey.

act ii: several months pass, , club chop suey has become flashier ( chop suey ). ta can not forget mei-li, , uncle chin (a janitor under new regime) advises ta pursue ( best love ). finds in fortune cookie factory working alongside chao. mei-li tells ta , chao have decided return china together, or @ least hong kong, administered british. meanwhile, wang finds himself attracted madam liang, , 2 have dinner together, though decide not marry ( don t marry me ). marry anyway.

linda announces leaving los angeles, wang s sammy fong act has taken on show, , has received better offer. ta intercepts mei-li @ docks , persuades remain in america; ta leaves club chop suey , 2 become street performers chao departs hong kong. harvard announces intention return home , attempt reconciliation disappointed parents. despite irritation @ ta, wang allows him marry mei-li @ club (which features ta s chinese opera 1 day week), company celebrates how chinese , american cultures have converged create happy moment (finale: hundred million miracles ).