The inside scoop on Mu - The World Premiere of Happy Valley
Now playing at Intermedia Arts through Oct. 2nd - Reservations: 612-871-4444

As I sat watching the opening night performance of Happy Valley by Aurorae Khoo this past weekend, I felt like a fortune teller. In front of me was this beautiful play being performed by a wonderful cast under the direction of our own Jennifer Weir. It was like looking into a crystal ball and seeing a great future for all of them — the playwright, actors, and director.

Aurorae has created a comically touching and painfully poignant play about the relationship of a young girl and her uncle in Hong Kong in the 1990's, just when the British were handing over control to China. In Aurorae’s writing, I can see her becoming one of the wonderful new wave of nationally-recognized young Asian American playwrights. She has talent, insight, and something to say, and I know when she is world famous one day, we will be proud that we were among the first to produce her work.

Our cast is full of Mu veterans like Jeany Park, Sherwin Resurreccion, and Sara Ochs, all actors who have, and certainly will, grace the stages of many larger companies in the Twin Cities. They are part of the new wave of Asian American actors here who will have an impact over the next decade. Sherwin is the perfect charming cad, Sara embodies the childlike and childish impulses of the niece, and Jeany simply dives into her role as Victoria (as well as great cameos as Queen Elizabeth and Den Shao Peng). And they are joined by our latest find, Maria Kelly, who we had known as a dancer/choreographer. Our discovery, of course, was that she was an actor first, and we are greatly appreciative of her wonderful work in the show as Winnie, the Filipina maid. I sense that the future will be bright for these truly talented Asian American actors — I just hope the Twin Cities is ready and open for them!

As for Jen Weir, she is one of our own. I remember when she bopped into her first audition for us like a fireball of energy. Over the past decade, she's acted, written, played taiko and directed for Mu and is now one of our Artistic Associates in the Core Group. With the visual images she creates (you’ll have to see the play to witness them), she captures the heart of a play so full of beauty, humor, and pain.

My advice is this — see Happy Valley and not only experience a wonderful play, but look into the crystal ball and see the future.

-Rick Shiomi