Fun with stereotypes and cliches
Untitled, F**k M*ss S**gon at The Young Vic Can a woke play about the tired, cliched representation of Asian culture and women by western white guys be entertaining? F**k yes! A play that has a repeating loop from Madame Butterfly via South Pacific, Mash and The World of Susie Wong, with each iteration bringing the stereotypical western viewpoint into clearer focus. At the centre of this we have ‘Kim’ (an impressive Mei Mac) forced to repeat her tragic story over and over again and becoming increasingly frustrated with her lot. It’s sharply funny, for example the made-up language ' kimono sushi ohio' being spoken by the square-jawed Clark (Tom Weston Jones) and Kim's increasingly frantic attempts to break out of the stereotypical narrative she's being forced into. When we reach the modern day and it’s clear that atrocious liberties are still being taken, the Kim and the play get properly cross and more than a bit meta. Can Kim get out of ...