Flower Drum Song
by Rebecca Wong, Special Contributor

Before I begin, I would like to point out that my initial expectation for this new musical was murky at best. The time between my initial awareness and my subsequent purchase and viewing of this musical was a mere two days. Walking in to the performance, I only knew two things. It was a new Chinese musical starring Lea Salonga of Miss Saigon. The massive usage of red, from the outside posters to the interior designs of the theatre, gave off the impression of gaudiness. However, this was one of those times where my proud instincts were way off the mark, and I'm not complaining.

Flower Drum Song is the latest must-see musical of the season for numerous reasons, one of which is obvious - Lea Salonga. Her strong, mesmerizing voice captured my attention from the very beginning with the theme song, "A Hundred Million Miracles," and I was held a willing prisoner until the performance ended with the singing of this song again. Taking place in the early 1900s, this musical portrays the life of Asian immigrants in San Francisco's Chinatown as seen through the eyes of Mei-Li (Salonga). Obeying her father's dying wish, Mei-Li escapes from Communist China and seeks out her father's old friend, Uncle Wang (Randall Duk Kim), owner of a dying Chinese Opera Theatre in America. There she falls in love with Wang's son, Ta (Jose Llana), who wants to become an American by trying to avoid everything Chinese, which includes Mei-Li. To sustain the operations of the theatre, Wang grudgingly allows Ta to use it as a dancing hall on Sundays. Mei-Li befriends the leading dancer, Linda Low, a girl who, like Ta, wants to become a real American.

Through the progression of the musical, there is an ironic role reversal brought on by love. Wang, a traditional Chinese who despises everything American, falls in love with Madame Liang (Jodi Long) and begins to embrace the American culture by turning his opera theatre into a full-fledged dancing and entertainment hall, changing his name to Uncle Sam. His son on the other hand begins to appreciate Chinese tradition and culture under Mei-Li's guidance. Flower Drum Song is not only a story about Asian immigrants and their adaptation to American life, but also about every immigrant who came to America in search of a dream. Each and every one of them carries an optimistic belief for a brighter and better future, as signified by the theme song.

Other than the leading star, there were many other talented performers that made the musical shine. Long's powerful voice is heard in "Grant Avenue," her persuasion to Wang to make Chinatown a sought after and welcoming place. She, along with Duk Kim, provides great comedy relief for the audience, especially in their duel, "Don't Marry Me." Llana was awesome in "Like a God" and his duet with Salonga, "You Are Beautiful," which was about finding beauty and greatness through the love in one's eyes. Accompanying the performances of these talents were the wildly creative costumes and stage designs. In Duk Kim's "Gliding Through My Memoree," a song about the travels of a sailor, there were girls dressed in different outfits, representing ladies from countries around the world. In his "Chop Suey," these girls came onstage attired in Chinese take-out cartons.

Flower Drum Song is a very entertaining musical, with wonderful songs and outrageously, fabulous costumes. It has the unique ability to touch your heart in every way, through laughter and tears.