Feb 20—Mar 06, 2016
The Wong Kidsin the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go!
Ma-Yi Theater Company / USA
Using a mix of action-driven storytelling, puppetry, and visual magic, The Wong Kids transports its audience into the far reaches of the galaxy. Violet and Bruce Wong just don’t fit in with the other Earth kids. Sure, they have superpowers, they’re just not very good ones. But when an evil beast called the Space Chupacabra appears, intent on universal destruction, The Wong Kids must travel to outer space in order to stop it… if they can only stop bickering. Violet and Bruce ultimately realize that being different isn’t just okay, it might just be the most important thing ever.
Info
Venue
Emerson Paramount Center
Mainstage
559 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111
Dates
Feb 20, 2016 - Mar 06, 2016
Details
90 minutes, no intermission
Ages 8+
Performances with Traditional Chinese character Mandarin supertitles:
Wednesday, March 2
Thursday, March 3
Friday, March 4
Saturday, March 5 @ 8PM
Sunday, March 6
Access
Audio Described performance
Sun, Feb 28 1:00 pm
American Sign Language interpreted performance
Sat, Mar 05 1:00 pm
Artists
Presented by:
Ma-Yi Theater Company
Ma-Yi Theater Company develops new plays that explore and affect Asian-American experiences while challenging the perceptions of what culturally specific theater should be. By producing forward thinking plays by today’s emerging playwrights, Ma-Yi Theater Company believes that theater can play an important part in breaking down barriers and increasing the understanding and appreciation of the cultural and ethnic diversity of our contemporary society. Ma-Yi Theater Company has won a number of accolades including the 2010 Special Drama Desk Award for more than two decades of excellence and for nurturing Asian-American voices in stylistically varied and engaging theater. Over the course of its 24-year history, Ma-Yi and its affiliated artists have garnered 9 OBIE Awards, and numerous Henry Hewes Award nominations. Ma-Yi Theater Company is under the guidance of Ralph B. Peña, Artistic Director, and Jorge Z. Ortoll, Executive Director.
Presented by:
Ma-Yi Theater Company
Written by:
Lloyd Suh
Directed by:
Ralph B. Peña
Co-created with:
Children’s Theatre Company
In Partnership with:
The Ensemble Studio Theatre
Gallery
Photo Credit: Dan Norman
Photo Credit: Dan Norman
Photo Credit: Dan Norman
Photo Credit: Dan Norman
Photo Credit: Dan Norman
“Children’s entertainment that consciously seeks to also keep grownups amused”
“ROLLICKING SCI-FI ADVENTURE”
“I’m not talking about the kind of smirky, strained inside jokes found in the ‘Shrek’ movies, but rather a certain self-aware wit that is evident from the start. Playwright Suh understands that teens and preteens simultaneously need and dread attention. He gets the paradoxical impulses to stand out and disappear, nicely captured in an early outburst by Violet that amounts to a universal cry of adolescence … ‘I wanna be ‘SPECIAL’ but I don’t wanna be ‘DIFFERENT.’’ ‘WONG KIDS’ is both.”
— The Boston Globe
“Has the pace and wild inventiveness of a long afternoon spent chasing around with a playmate, making up an adventurous narrative as you go.”
“Speaks to children in their own language, but the show will also give adults a nostalgic smile.”
“Stuffed with music, puppetry, dance, a cadre of colorful villains and a pair of young heroes”
“Never loses sight of the fact that the story takes place in young imaginations”
— WBUR
“The show borrows visual conventions from cartoons, rendering the scary parts deliciously scary, and aural conventions from the movies, because doesn’t every superhero space quest need a soaring underscore?”
“But “The Wong Kids” embeds its messages in fun, and its insistence on being extraordinary proves the upside of standing out.”
“Lloyd Suh’s exuberantly imaginative adventure for children”
“The magic of Ralph B. Peña’s production comes from its theatricality: live actors, inventively simple sets by Meredith Ries and whimsical puppets by David Valentine”
— New York Times
“Older kids who love Star Wars and superheroes are going to adore Violet and Bruce Wong”
“The production hooks the audience from the very first moments”
“A great experience for families”
— Mommy Poppins
“It’s all there in the ArtsEmerson and Ma-Yi Theatre presentation of The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go!”
“Should hold the interests of adults and children alike.”
— On Boston Stages
“A delicious sci-fi spoof…equally rewarding for all ages”
“It’s a Children’s Theatre show to which you really don’t have to bring a child, partially because it does such a great job of helping you get back in touch with the kid inside yourself.”
“one of the funniest, most enjoyable productions I’ve experienced”
“Who knew that saving the universe could be so much fun?”
“(Lloyd) Suh has crafted a gem of a script”
“Their internal and external friction creates a propulsive energy that drives the production forward”
— Twin Cities
“Wong Kids” has striking design, including temporarily blinding lights, monstrous voices and scenic elements that literally set the stage for a cosmic journey.”
“(Lloyd)Suh’s clever piece broadens the repertory of roles available to Asian-American actors, but that’s only one reason to recommend it.”
“The many messages in “Wong Kids” include ones about diversity… In fact, the villain wants to reduce the universe to dust so that everything and everyone will be the same.”
“We can be thankful for their differences. These “Wong Kids” have got the right stuff.”
— Star Tribune
“The Wong Kids” isn’t only fun, but portrays themes of the importance of family, and accepting yourself for who you are, and the talents you have. By the end of the play, “The Wong Kids” realize that being different isn’t only okay, but that it’s important.”
“ the play is weird, yet vibrant, and gives a new twist to the adventure and excitement of children’s plays with its use of space creatures, superpowers, talking rocks, and puppets”
“Suh’s script is full of wit and humor, which the actors remarkably execute.”
“While it is a children’s play, Adults and young theatergoers are sure to enjoy it just as much.”
— Asian in New York
“a wildly inventive interplanetary odyssey complete with space creatures and levitating rocks.”
— Asian American Press
“The title is just as weird as the show, but it doesn’t even come close to giving you an idea of how much fun is in store.”
“Lloyd Suh’s script sparkles with humor and wit, and all the actors execute it with impressive skill.”
“…there’s a solid message of celebrating differences and of liking yourself for the talents you do have, even if they seem “lame” to others.”
— Theatre Mania
“an exuberant and wild ride” “a space odyssey with lots of laughs, with talking rocks and singing dragons”
“The piece has a worthy and well-meaning message”
“This is an inventive show that takes a swipe at stereotypes with aplomb”
— Exeunt Magazine
“This is an inventive show that had my 10 year old son at times in stitches, and it’s engaging for adults as well.”
“talented, appealing, versatile cast”
“This is one of the best and most original Off Broadway family productions I’ve seen in some time”
“it will resonate and entertain on many memorable levels.”
— Motherhood Later