The Isle is a play that presents different layers on top of the traditional love story stratum present in most works, says Bonni Chan, co-director and lead actress of the piece that was first brought to stage by prolific Hong Kong playwright, Paul Poon, in 1996.
The play has since gone through a handful of metamorphoses, with the current Theatre du Pif rendition to show Aug. 20 - 22 at the Gateway Pacific Theatre Festival being the fourth installment.
Chan, also co-artistic director of Theatre du Pif alongside partner Sean Curran, explains, she was, like many others, captivated by the play, notably a second-generation presentation she saw more than 10 years ago.
“I just loved the text and the script,” she says. “There was such a strong layer of characters and symbolism” says Chan.
The du Pif interpretation of Poon’s play is not traditional in most senses, comments Chan.
“The set is minimalistic, quite symbolic . . . [and] with a lot of space for movement.”
Though the core plot remains intact.
The play begins on a remote island — not Hong Kong per se, but perhaps similarly based on one of the outlying island locales — with a young woman awaiting the return of her lover.
But instead a young man arrives who isn’t the mate she’s been awaiting.
As per the brief synopsis at du Pif’s website, a battle of wills consequently unfolds and the question around remaining there or leaving the island begins to buffet the characters’ consciences.
Producer Jamie Wu says it’s taken well over a year of back-and-forth emails and Skype conversations between Theatre du Pif and Gateway, but it’s worth it now that everything is coming to a head.
“We are happy to bring this production to Canada,” Wu exclaims.
She adds, it will be the first time the small, six-person Hong Kong theatre company will be performing in Canada.
Wu also explains, Gateway Artistic Director Jovanni Sy was certainly instrumental in bringing du Pif’s The Isle to Richmond and the hope is the international theatre company will be re-invited for another event some time in the future.
The play will also star Lee Chi-man alongside Chan, and will feature English surtitles so English-speaking Canadians can follow along with the Cantonese production.
The Gateway Pacific Theatre marked the onset of its three-production festival last week with the opening and showing of Detention by the Tang-Shu-wing Theatre on Aug. 15.
Following The Isle, Gateway will feature the last of its three Hong Kong influenced productions, The Fire of Desire, Aug. 22 - 24.
Tickets will be $35 for adults; $20 for students for Studio productions.
