By Linda G. Louie
It is often said that business can be done on a napkin. When ACC’s board member Tim Corcoran and Capital Stage board member Kathryn Doi sat down over lunch to talk about the quality theatrical programs coming to Sacramento’s stage, they spoke about an exceptional play of American theatric quality written by Lloyd Suh and directed by Michelle Talgarow, The Chinese Lady.
Through their discussion, Tim immediately understood the value of bringing people in the ACC community to experience a critically acclaimed dark-poetic play about racial hate and the strife immigrants endured to live in America. Seeing the play would remind many members of similar experiences their family members may have undergone during the decades of The Chinese Exclusion Act 1883-1900 or the stories of oppression and struggles parents or friends of Asian descent may have undergone to make it in America, such as to buy a home or even make a living.
Decidedly, over lunch, both Tim and Kathryn reserved February 24th for an exclusive buy-out performance and seated over 100 members of the ACC community for the showing of The Chinese Lady, through their generous donation. The audience was an eclectic mix of donors, program leaders, volunteers, community partners, and even ACC pickleball players.
The evening began with a reception featuring baked goods made by Joyce Iseri and Jean Shiomoto along with three varieties of Teneral Cellars wine donated by Darrick Lam. On display were poster boards introducing ACC Wellness Park, a new health and wellness facility that is being proposed for development on the two acres of land in back of the ACC administration building. Ted Fong, Scott Okamoto, and Helen Yee were on hand to explain the project.
Watching The Chinese Lady awakened the minds and human spirit of many ACC members on a Friday night. Actors Rinabeth Apostol (who grew up in Sacramento) and Leon Goertzen told the historical account of Afong Moy in the most powerful way. The exceptional writing and acting was definitely worthy of its 2020 Horton Foote Prize.
After the play, the actors returned to the stage to hold a heart-to-heart conversation with the ACC audience. This rare meet-the-actors session led to many comments about the story and the two skilled actors who brought it to life. For some of us, we felt Afong Moy’s struggle against the backdrop of today’s Asian hate phenomenon.
ACC would like to thank Tim Corcoran and Kathryn Doi for a most memorable evening at the Capital Stage play, The Chinese Lady.
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