Fabulist Theatre has recently completed its world premiere workshop of Dim Sum Diaries: Second Helping at The Nest on Granville Island. While still a workshop, the show felt more complete than some full-fledged new works as it drew inspiration from Mark Leiren-Young’s 1991 Dim Sum Diaries radio play to tell eight new stories.
From stories written by Louisa Phung Suk Yee, Kevin Chong, Dale Lee Kwong, Minh Ly, Yvette Lu, Aaron Jan, Mark Leiren-Young, and Kenneth Tynan, Director and Fabulist co-Artistic Director, Damon Bradley Jang has linked together the individual experiences to create one cohesive evening of theatre. Aurora Chan, Howie Kwan, Jane Loy, Kyle Toy and Mikayla Kwan bring to life an assortment of Chinese-Canadian characters from across generations and varying life circumstances, while representing and sharing the stories of real-life Chinese-Canadians, and of real resonance to me, mixed-race Chinese-Canadians.
I’m sure almost anyone with a Chinese background would be able to relate to one or more of these stories, or at least recognize the lives within. Stories about new immigrants, second and third generation, adopted Chinese children raised by Canadians with European culture and traditions, queer-Asians, mixed-Chinese who have to balance both worlds and COVID-19 anti-Asian sentiment are all touched upon. Although these recollections are specific to the Chinese writers, and each diaspora has their own experiences, the emotions and relationships told in these stories could likely translate to many other cultures who have been viewed as ‘the others’ in their communities.
While it’s always exciting to see Asian representation on stage and screen, it’s rare to see ‘my’ story, as a more Caucasian-presenting half-Chinese Canadian, told to audiences, and Kenneth Tynan’s “Moon Cakes” vignette featuring Kyle Toy was an emotional revelation. Coming at near the end of the 2+ hour workshop, the emotional punch this story left me with made spending the time listening to all these Dim Sum Stories even more worth while. This is Dim Sum that will leave you satisfied and digesting the experiences for a long time to come.
Dim Sum Diaries: Second Helping has wrapped its workshop presentations, but Fabulist Theatre will continue to perfect the production with hopes of fulfilling its potential and bringing it to theatres across the country. Watch for it in the years to come!