Friday, 2/28/97
Show reveals pain of immigrant experience
'Tracks of Tears' traces plight of Chinese in 1860s U.S.
By Sam Toussi
Daily Bruin Contributor
Playwright Bertolt Brecht once said that to educate, you must first entertain. This weekend the Association of Chinese Americans, UCLA's 15-year-old cultural, social and community organization, will attempt to not only entertain but educate their audience.
"Tracks of Tears," a full-length musical drama presented by ACA, will be performed Saturday at the Veterans Wadsworth Theater.
The play follows two young couples' journeys to America in the 1860s. Their immigrant experience centers around the transcontinental railroad. Amidst the hardships of the Chinese immigration to America, one couple decides to disguise the wife as a man in order to immigrate as a laborer, while the other couple comes to America separately because the man believes the woman to be dead.
The show features traditional Chinese dance and several songs sung in the Mandarin dialect.
This performance is a change of pace for ACA because it intends to educate the Chinese community as much as showcase ACA's talent.
"In the past, we just showed the talent we had but we didn't really try to send a message," said assistant director Bonnie Wong. "This year, we have a message and that's the struggle of the Chinese immigrant in that time."
Even though the focus has sharpened, the personnel is very much the same. Many of last year's participants returned because they enjoyed their previous experience.
"I knew the most of the people and I had such a great time working on it last year that it was just obvious to get involved this year," said assistant producer Tam Tsang.
Before they could organize and state their message, the cast spent time educating themselves. Much of the cast were ignorant of the specifics of Chinese immigration and work on the transcontinental railroad. By the end, however, all were aware of the intricacies of the harsh treatment the Chinese faced in this country.
"It's amazing to see how far we've come. I mean, look at what they went through, all the poverty and all the hard labor and today we're living their dreams, going to UCLA," said choreographer Emily Liu.
"Tracks of Tears" was written and directed by Weiko Lin, who also composed the original music, served as executive producer and will star in the show. Lin is also a resident assistant in Sproul Hall taking 22 units this quarter. Why did he take on such a load?
"Well, I was writing it, and I thought I should direct and was already producing it. Then there was a part I was interested in playing. It happened pretty quickly. I don't know exactly why I did this to myself," Lin laughs.
However, Lin had a number of aides to help him wrangle with the 72-member cast. In particular, 13 choreographers added their own personal flair to five segments of precise movement. A hip-hop/jazz configuration opens the show. A Chinese traditional dance shows the assimilation of the Chinese in America. There is also an interpretive stomp which symbolizes the Chinese working on the railroad.
The sets, which were all designed and built by Anne Marie Wear, enhance the concept of the change between the Chinese and American societies.
"The sets are fragmented. Weiko and I wanted to use fragmented scenes to show how the immigrants were in limbo between China and the United States," says Wear.
Through this year's historically themed message, ACA is trying to emotionally impact the Chinese community. Also, they hope to entertain their audience.
"After all," Lin says, "this isn't a history lesson, it's musical theater."
All entertainment aside, the true power of this year's performance stems from the presentation of Chinese American accomplishments in this country. The play presents the evolution of the Chinese immigrant experience over a 100 years ago, emphasizing the long struggle for assimilation.
THEATER: "Tracks of Tears" shows Saturday, March 1, at the Veterans Wadsworth Theater. Admission is free. For more information, call the Central Ticket Office at 825-2101.
INGA DOROSZ
Members of the Association of Chinese Americans rehearse for Saturday's performance of "Trail of Tears."