Playwright Laureen Yee’s The Great Leap first caught our attention last spring when the play was produced at the American Conversatory Theatre in San Francisco. That production featured amongst its cast, BD Wong. Now Wong is on the directing side of a production that just opened at the Pasadena Playhouse. The Great Leap will play there through December 1st.
I’ll try to sum the play up differently than I did in March.
The coaches of both an American and Chinese basketball team face off against each other for an exhibition game in 1989. Old animosities and unresolved issues rise to the surface and have nothing to do with their respective teams. One US player’s actions draw unnecessary attention to the game, the coaches and the player himself.
Wong, who was a Tony Award winner for his performance in the original production of M. Butterfly, played the part of the Chinese coach in New York and also in San Francisco. He’s well acquainted with the play.
The cast is Grant Chang, Justin Chien, James Eckhouse and Christine Lin.
Along with Cambodian Rock Band, Yee’s The Great Leap is one of the most-produced plays of the year.
This production of The Great Leap is a co-production with East West Players. The show runs two hours which includes a 15-minute intermission.
For tickets go here.
Photo of Justin Chien and James Eckhouse by Jenny Graham/Courtesy of the Pasadena Playhouse