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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW John Muir school expands ... Prosecution: Defendant said he was sorry for stabbing ... Direct hit: Storm leaves destruction in its wake ... John Muir school expands ... Prosecution: Defendant said he was sorry for stabbing ... Direct hit: Storm leaves destruction in its wake ... OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL REVIEW: 'Secret Love' strikes comical, poignant balance Comment By Angela Decker for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Angela Decker for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 20, 2015 at 10:55 AM Updated Apr 20, 2015 at 11:07 AM By Angela Decker for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 20, 2015 at 10:55 AM Updated Apr 20, 2015 at 11:07 AM » Social News Enduring love, loss and longing are universal feelings that transcend language and connect cultures. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival's production of Taiwanese playwright Stan Lai's wildly popular Chinese drama, “Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land,” makes a statement about history and human relationships while entertaining a diverse audience. The two plays-within-a-play involve two troupes of actors who are mistakenly double-booked into the Angus Bowmer Theatre for dress rehearsals. One is performing “Secret Love,” a contemporary drama. The other troupe is performing “In Peach Blossom Land,” a comedy about a fabled paradise described by fourth century Chinese poet Tao Yuanming. The drama opens in Shanghai in 1948 as actors portraying young lovers Jiang and Yun, played by Cristofer Jean and Kate Hurster, say their goodbyes in a city park. The two believe their separation is only temporary, but when the Communists take control of mainland China after the Chinese civil war ends, Jiang is forced to flee to Taiwan without knowing what has become of Yun. Forty years later, Jiang is on his deathbed, still brooding over his lost love. In the comedy, a fisherman, played by Eugene Ma, leaves his unfaithful wife and her lover, played by Leah Anderson and Paul Juhn, gets lost and discovers a land where people live in utopian bliss, twirling about to capture injured butterflies and return them to their mothers. Eventually, he misses his home and decides to return. While at first, the two stories seem to have little in common, the characters' desires to overcome separation and reunite with old loves becomes increasingly apparent as scenery, props and even the actors' lines start to overlap one another. The tragic drama has comic elements and the comedy has deeply poignant moments. This is the first professional production of Lai's play in America, but it has been staged hundreds of times, possibly thousands, if you count unauthorized productions, in China and Taiwan since its debut in 1986. It is possibly the most well-known modern play in China, and Lai is considered one of the most influential playwrights and directors in Asia. In addition to translating an iconic Asian work to suit a western audience, Lai also adapts the story specifically to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He peppers it with Ashland in-jokes, and simultaneously embraces and pokes fun at the festival's commitment to multiracial casting. For the most part, the play translates extremely well, though there are some comic moments in the first act that go on just a bit too long, and one enigmatic character whose presence is never satisfactorily explained. Along the way, the audience enjoys a truly touching wartime love story, traditional Chinese slapstick, a brief history lesson and a bit of theater high jinx. Amidst this jumble of contrasts, Lai strikes a seemingly magical balance, interleaving the two very different stories with behind-the-scenes mayhem in a way that should be a train wreck, yet somehow hangs together beautifully. Lai's play is complicated, but it doesn't feel heady. The two stories are constantly interrupted by each other, and by scene re-painters, frustrated actors, bumbling crew, demanding directors and a grumbling custodian, drawing plenty of laughs. Amazingly, the tragic love of Jiang and Yun shines through this mosquito-cloud of distractions to tug our heartstrings at the finish. That an audience can become invested in the truth of these characters, despite countless reminders of their falsity, is a testament to Jean and Hurster's skill as actors, and demonstrates the strength of theater in the right hands. While “Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land” is entertaining, even goofily funny at times, it is also a thoughtful, layered work that explores the anguish of people separated from their loved ones, the weight of a violent history and the way such emotional pain colors every aspect of life. "Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land" continues through Oct. 31. For tickets, call 541-482-4331 or visit www.osfashland.org. Angela Decker is a freelance writer in Ashland and can be reached at [email protected] . By Angela Decker for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Angela Decker for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 20, 2015 at 10:55 AM Updated Apr 20, 2015 at 11:07 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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