A pair of solo shows that look at life, love, food and intimacy in the busy world of today form a double bill as Gateway Theatre’s Pacific Theatre series continues this week.
From Sept. 17 -19 MayMay Chan brings a multi-sensory feast as she cooks on stage during the comedy Cook Your Lifewhich follows a recipe of how to manage relationships in the hustle and bustle of contemporary society.
Her performance is followed by Eric Tang’s MeChat, a take on the isolation many feel in a world where cyber relations have become commonplace methods of interaction.
Both performances will be performed in Cantonese with English surtitles.
Esther Ho, producer of the Pacific Festival said the pair of productions offer unique glimpses into two very different worlds.
While the stories Chan presents — as she prepares a meal the audience can sample — are typically Hong Kong-themed, there have been some changes to localize some aspects that relate to life for immigrants who now call Metro Vancouver home.
“It’s more about the Canadian family ways where kids rarely see their parents who have left to go back home (Hong Kong) for business,” Ho said. “It’s also about the long distance relationships many international students have had to manage when they come here for school, then have to return home.”
But the main premise is how a hectic schedule has put a strain on relationships.
At the other end of the scale — and separated by a 15-minute intermission as sets are completely changed — is Tang’s MeChatwhich focuses on the disconnect in social behaviour brought on by the prevalence of life in cyberspace.
“The Chinese name for this production is ‘Dry,’” Ho said, referring to how Hong Kong youth refer to the lack of authentic social experiences in their lives as they opt for life online.
“Nothing is happening for them and life is so boring,” Ho added. “They prefer pursuing cyber connections and don’t have many face-to-face meetings with people.”
Ho said it was ambitious to place a double bill into the Pacific Festival lineup, but it was the perfect opportunity to offer a diverse set of plays to help continue building a diverse audience for the series of productions on stage at the Pacific Festival through the month of September.
Cook Your Lifeand MeChatrun Sept. 17 - 19 on the MainStage at Gateway Theatre. Showtime is 8 p.m.
For more information and tickets, visit gatewaytheatre.com.
