Colonialism is Terrible, But Phở is Delicious
Awards and Recognition
- Rolling World Premiere
- BEST OF 2022 Marin Independent
- AAPI Night - Apr 15 More info in tab below
- Recommended Stage Raw
Reviewer Quotes
“ a light-hearted cheekiness that, nonetheless, carries a one-two political punch ”
Stage Raw
“ Quirky characters and clever script… pitch-perfect direction ”
StageSceneLA
“ You will walk out feeling satisfied and wanting a 2nd installment ”
Arts & Culture OC
On the Cripe Stage…
This biting comedy spans centuries, continents, and cultures in a compelling three-part vignette structure. Beginning in 1880s French Indochina, a headstrong Vietnamese cook finds herself in the kitchen of aristocratic French settlers. Then in 1999 Vietnam, American tourists get their first taste of the local cuisine. Finally, in present-day, gentrifying Brooklyn, the simmering clash around culture, ownership, and authenticity comes to a roaring boil.
Nominated for OCTG Theatre AwardOutstanding New Work (Dustin H. Chinn)
“playwright Dustin H. Chinn uses a deceptively simple subject – the Vietnamese noodle dish, phở — as the launching pad for an incisive play about Western hubris, the endemic tendency of outsiders to set themselves above the regional cultures they so blithely appropriate.”
Stage Raw“the larger point about the way a dish can preserve the relentless discord of history is delectably served.”
LA Times“Whether or not you find phở to your liking, I can pretty much guarantee that Colonialism is Terrible, But Phở is Delicious will hit the spot… Brewer, Mariah, Nguyen, and an especially on-fire Long could not be more triply delish.”
StageSceneLA“A great comedic script with a powerful message… near-perfect direction”
Orange Curtain Review“Seamlessly directed by Chance Theater’s founding Artistic Director Oánh Nguyen, this is certainly a work ideally seen in Orange County, the unquestioned pho capitol of consumption in the U.S.”
OC Register“the sub-themes are numerous and given a light touch. For example, cultural appropriation, assimilation vs. tradition, gentrification, class, language barriers and racism. Fortunately, these subjects are addressed playfully. There is no preaching, exposition or repetition. The playwright, director and cast respect the audience’s intelligence.”
Arts & Culture OC
Executive Producer
Laurie Smits Staude
Associate Producers Susan Bowman & Freddie Greenfield
Season Producers
Bette & Wylie Aitken
Associate Season Producer The Family of Mary Kay Fyda-Mar
Media Sponsor Viet Q Media
Community Partners:
- Viet Creatives Collective
- Viet Rainbow of Orange County
- Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA)
This production is presented as part of a rolling world premiere that started at Aurora Theatre.
SPECIAL AAPI COMMUNITY NIGHT |
| Saturday, April 15, 7-11 p.m. |
| Media Sponsor: Viet Q Media |
| Community Partners: Viet Creatives Collective, Viet Rainbow of Orange County, and VAALA |
|
| Are you part of an AAPI Community Organization? Contact us at [email protected] for information on special discounts and fundraising opportunities. |
TRAILER #2
TRAILER #1
Little Saigon TV Interview #1
Little Saigon TV Interview #2
Venue Bette Aitken theater arts Center
- Full-Service Bar
- Free Parking
- Conveniently Located
See the show? Share your experience with us...
At a Glance
- Approximate Running Time:
- 1 hour, 30 minutes with no intermissions
- Special Notes:
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- Post-show discussion after each performance
- Join us for Opening Night as a Gold Member.
- Babes in arms and children under 4 are not permitted.
- 30% off for groups of 10 or more.
- Pay-What-You-Can Preview Performances
- AAPI Community Night - Sat, April 15
I was totally engaged in and absorbed by this play, which filled me with memories. I grew up in South Vietnam before the war and always wondered why I wasn’t allowed to learn or speak Vietnamese – only French! This beautifully written play answered all my questions, using food as a vehicle to describe the history of Vietnam, an oppressed and war-torn country.
Performance perfect! Great acting, thoughtfully written, provocative, set was visually clever
I really like the ”Talkback,“ with the actors, after the performance. It gives the audience a chance to have questions answered, if they were confused or were just wondering about something that happened in the performance.
Great actors & actresses. Love how they can switch their accents in a blink of an eye. Good plot & we really enjoyed the play
We came away with such positive thoughts on the performers – excellent – and the timely story line. Could not believe it when the 90 minutes were up! 5++
As usual with the Chance, it was so well cast. It was fun to see Casey on stage; so funny. He out did himself with language shifts. I learned a lot during the conversation after the play about Vietnamese culture and traditions. Both the director and members of the cast shared their personal experiences. I might have to go to Garden Grove to sample pho at the restaurant mentioned.
So much fun seeing Casey in his roles! The other actors were great, too. Very enjoyable!
It was clever, original and funny
I was inspired by the ingenious use of language accent to reshuffle the deck, so to speak, and help the audience see anew the ways we might dishonor our fellow humans despite seemingly innocent attempts to reach across cultural barriers. And it was humbling to find myself complicit in it (even as an immigrant!) when I relate to people from cultures very different from my own. I found some relief and hope in a short exchange inside the Brooklyn restaurant: “Of course I’ll judge you, but I’ll forgive you. That’s what friends do.” It reminded me that there’re bound to be times when even out of our best intentions we inflict pain on others. But stories don’t have to stop there. Through relationship, there can be forgiveness and redemption.
Enjoyed my first visit to Chance Theater! I loved how the post-show talkback, the dramaturg article, and the very engaged audience! 🙂
We really enjoyed this play. In fact we liked it so much we went back and took our grandson.
It’s funny and poignant and Casey Is hilarious.
I liked it so much, I put a post on social media, recommending it to my friends.