The Quiet Brother

A  fascinating play - here's what I said for artshub
http://www.artshub.com.au/au/news-article/reviews/performing-arts/the-quiet-brother-187878

Presented by Australasian Art & Stageworks, The Quiet Brother is a poignant, intimate analysis of a Chinese family’s struggle to survive, both in China and Australia, before, during and after the Lambing Flat riots of July 1861.
Anti-Chinese immigration laws were first introduced in 1855 by the colony of Victoria; similar legislation was soon introduced by every other colonial government. This eventually led to the White Australia Policy, which was in place until 1973.
The Quiet Brother was written in 2011 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Lambing Flat riots, when some 250 Chinese gold miners were seriously hurt after a violent mob attacked them and drove them from the diggings. A thrilling, whirling martial arts display and traditional Chinese music are interwoven with the fabric of the play, which is written in English, but includes some Chinese words, phrases and calligraphy.
Exploring our rich multicultural era before the passing of the 1901 Immigration Restriction Act, the play also examines the domestic experience of a migrant family. It’s about assimilation and integration and becoming Australian while struggling to stay true to one’s culture; the use of language and how language defines identity.
The challenges of immigration and identity, both personal and cultural, are played out across three generations of a Chinese family. Young James wants to be a writer - in both English and Cantonese; and his grandfather Ah Lung adopts Western clothing. It is, however, the middle generation, Lily and her brother Henry, who suffer the most from the challenges of belonging to two cultures at once.
The story is told through letters between the family’s patriarch Ah Lung (Michael Quin), who has moved to the Lambing Flat goldfields, and matriarch, loving wife and mother Ah Toy (Gabrielle Chan) .Through Ah Lung's letters, as he labours to make enough wealth to bring his family to Australia, we have a vivid description of his voyage to Australia, his struggles to survive, the racist treatment he and other Chinese received at the hands of others miners, and the horrific riots themselves. Ah Lung was one of the lucky ones who escaped with his life, but lost everything else.
Ah Lung is excellently played by Quan, who totally engrosses us in his story. Beautiful Ah Toy, dramatic in red and black and with glorious long black hair, is exquisitely played by Gabrielle Chan. Through Ah Toy’s letters to Ah Lung we learn of her loneliness and anguish at being trapped waiting in Canton. And waiting. And waiting.
Troubled Henry, their son, caught between two cultures, is magnificently played by Lap Phan. His sister Lily, mother to James, is passionately played by Ivy Mak, severe in an embroidered white blouse and long black skirt.
Grandson James (a terrific performance by Sean Alex Wang), who is far more at home in both cultures, epitomises the hope for a peaceful, more integrated future.
The riots are depicted through a very effective use of martial arts (a fabulous performance by Derek Quan) combined with film, shadow figures and tumultuous fire on screen. Mention is made of Richard Roberts, who helped over a 1000 Chinese, sheltering them on or near his property Currawong.
Clayton Buffoni's sparse, simple set designs include a hessian wall for the goldfields tents and a few tables, chairs and boxes, making the flexible playing space of the black-box studio space of Belvoir Downstairs seem much larger than it is. The musicians are hidden in the wings.
The cast did very well to cope with the annoying distraction of various audience members’ mobile phones ringing, especially in the middle of a very quiet, intense scene, until one mobile at least was confiscated.
While perhaps slightly uneven in parts, this is a fascinating, challenging and very moving work about a little known slice of Australian/Chinese history.
Rating: Three and half out of 5 stars
The Quiet Brother
By Ivy Mak
Director: Nikki Selby
Production Designer: Clayton Buffoni
Video Artist: Elka Kerkhofs
Technical Director: Jocelyn Speight
Musicians: Jillian Freeman (musical director, Erhu, composer) and Leighton Lam (percussionist, composer)
Cast: Michael Quan (also producer and Cantonese narrator), Derek Quan (martial artist/choreographer), Sean Alex Wang, Lap Phan, Gabrielle Chan (also producer and Chinese translation), Daphne Lowe Kelley and Ivy Mak (writer and producer)
Presented by Australasian Arts & Stageworks
Running time 45 mins (approx) no interval
Belvoir St downstairs
February 23 – 26