THE HANGOVER REPORT – Lisa Sanaye Dring’s dutifully written SUMO is a fascinating glimpse into the rarefied world of elite sumo wrestling

Earl T. Kim in The Public Theater’s co-production of “Sumo” by Lisa Sanaye Dring (photo by Joan Marcus).

Last night, Lisa Sanaye Dring‘s Sumo opened Off-Broadway at the Public Theater’s Anspacher Theater in a co-production by the Public Theater, Ma-Yi Theater Company, and La Jolla Playhouse. In short, Dring’s new play tells the story of one Akio, a scrappy and angry aspiring sumo wrestler, who arrives at an elite training facility with ambition to spare. Although he’s initially met with resistance by both his more senior training partners and the head of the facility (a top wrestler himself), he eventually earns their respect and rises quickly up through the ranks — but at what cost?

In Sumo, Dring lays out what it takes, albeit in a fictitious coming-of-age story, to be a champion in this fascinating, uniquely Japanese sport — the play is The Karate Kid of sumo wrestling, if you will. Suffice to say, the piece is a captivating opportunity for American theatergoers to get a glimpse into this rarefied world, one that is contradictorily intertwined in both sacred tradition and unabashed commercialism, which the work makes sure to point out. Beyond fleshing out the workings of this singular ecosystem, the playwright also dutifully if predictably tackles humanistic themes — some more pointedly than others — such as toxic masculinity, unchecked ambition, self-worth/identity, and body positivity.

Sumo has been fluidly staged by veteran director Ralph B. Peña, who effectively utilizes the arena-like dimensions of the Anspacher space, particularly during the show’s exciting sumo wrestling tournament sequences (kudos in particular to co-fight directors James Yaegashi and Chelsea Pace for their contributions). The storytelling also benifits from the dynamism of evocative projections and the live taiko drumming by Shih-Wei Wu. The fine cast admirably acquit themselves to the daunting physicality of the work, which gives the endeavor an air of authenticity, even if the acting at times registers a tad on the broad side.

RECOMMENDED

SUMO
Off-Broadway, Play
The Public Theater
2 hours, 20 minutes (with one intermission)
Through March 30

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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