When a word is so overused that it can have so many meanings, eventually it becomes meaningless. Take the word Multiculturalism. Or “Asian” as used in Australia. The word “multiculturalism” is bandied around in Australia very carelessly especially by politicians when they are trying to be politically correct. If we are not careful we can…
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Happy Endings By Melissa Reeves
HAPPY ENDING BY MELISSA REEVES LAWLER STUDIO, MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY (September 2012) Review by Moni Lai Storz Happy Ending by Melissa Reeves is an intercultural play rarely found in Australia. It explores the relationship between an Anglo Australian woman in her forties and a young Chinese masseur. But this alone does make it intercultural. It…
Continue ReadingTelling Tales: Invitation to Storytellers in the USA
I am extending my invitation (beyond Australia) to American story tellers to join us in sharing your stories that are intercultural, that is, Chinese American. You may wonder why am I inviting our American friends to share your stories. While doing research in intercultural or cross cultural theatre with a focus on Chinese theatre making,…
Continue ReadingShort Intercultural Stories, Snips & Snaps of Australian Chinese Experiences of Each Other
Hi Moni, “I had my childhood friend over to my place for dinner when I was 12 years old. My dear Mum kept on pouring food on her plate while all my family were in normal loud conversation. Afterwards she innocently asked me if “were you having a fight?” No, I said “that is how…
Continue ReadingOur Man In Beijing, Intercultural Play, by Moni Lai Storz, goes to Asia 2013 : COME JOIN IN THE ACT
As performing artists and any other artists for that matter, we seem to get punished for doing the ‘job’ we love. How is that so? Well, we seem to be poor for a start. Poor only because we spend the best years of our lives creating our masterpieces. So as time is money, we miss…
Continue ReadingLast Show Our Man in Beijing in La Mama – The Author has the Last Word
Last night was our last show at La Mama and needless to say it was the best ever. A full house, actors well versed in every line, every gesture and in sync with each other. The crew was smooth, slid in and out of the stage changing props. As author I am amazed anew, like…
Continue ReadingYue Liang Dai Bao Wo De Xin sung by Diana Nguyen
This song is probably the most famous of all tunes in Asia. It is like a national anthem that bonds Chinese everywhere. It is the signature tune of the Chinese diaspora. In Our Man in Beijing, Diana Nguyen sang it with a Vietnamese accent accompanied by Phil Trainer. There was not one Chinese person in…
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Our man In Beijing has a SOLD OUT SEASON at La Mama!
An awesome sell out…cast and crew were superb front and behind curtains. The rehearsals were hilarious as the new leading lady Diana Nyugen is a comdian, famous for her Phi and Me act in Melbourne. Peter Muir who was the leading man in last year’s production had to be flown in from sunny Queensland, straight…
Continue ReadingOur Man in Beijing opens at La Mama 25th August 2012
Our Man in Beijing in the winter season at LaMama has a new leading lady Diana Nyugen of Phi and Me fame…she is hilarious, sings like an angel and so much fun to watch…
Continue ReadingThe ACT on tour of the British Isles
Me and Phil Trainer just completed our tour and boy! was it awesome or wot! We landed in a Great Britain that was about to celebrate the golden jubilee of QE2 and what a performance that was. But our greatest thrill was attending the Playback Theatre Festival in London and meeting its wonderful actors, directors,…
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