Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In a refreshing move, Asian American actors over the age of 60 sagely animate OUT OF TIME

• By drediman
• March 2, 2022
• No Comments

Last night, the National Asian American Theater Company (otherwise referred to as “NAATCO”) and the Public Theater’s production of Out of Time opened Off-Broadway. In essence, the production is a collection of five monologues spread across a full evening (each runs approximately 30 minutes). These include My Documentary by Anna Ouyang Moench, Ball in the Air by Mia Chung, Black Market Caviar by Jaclyn Backhaus, Japanese Folk Song by Naomi Iizuka, and Disturbance Specialist by Sam Chanse. In a refreshing and welcome move, they’re all sagely animated by Asian American actors over the age of 60.

Although each monologue stands on its own, they share some notable thematic similarities. The Covid pandemic, mortality, survival, and identity are all notions that weave in and out of these short but rich solo works in varying degrees. As its title suggests, the evening also takes a good hard look at time (at times in fascinatingly speculative ways) from the perspective of those who have lived a good bit and have experienced a lot during their time here on this planet. I’m not going to lie, Out of Time is a long haul and requires consistent attention. But those willing to put in the effort will be rewarded with some carefully wrought, quietly defiant, and certainly underrepresented points of view.

The production has been directed with piercing clarity by Les Waters (who also conceived the piece). The first act – comprised of My Documentary, Ball in the Air, and Black Market Caviar – intrigued me with its variety and the simmering strength of Page Leong, Mia Katigbak, and Rita Wolf’s performances. Frankly, had the show ended there, I would have been fully satisfied. After the intermission, Glenn Kubota and Natsuko Ohama, respectively, take the stage in Japanese Folk Song and Disturbance Specialist, which are less striking stylistically but still essential in their own compelling ways.

RECOMMENDED

OUT OF TIME
Off-Broadway, Play
NAATCO / The Public Theater
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Through March 13