Jacqui Brown
If you're looking for a little love, passion and betrayal this
weekend, check out the latest production by the Lodestone Theatre
Ensemble at the Grove Theater Center in Burbank.
The world premiere of "Solve For X" is a provocative look at human
nature. It involves an affair of the heart and body within a family
unit and embraces the subject of honor, loyalty and love between
family and lovers.
The ensemble is an Asian American theater company with a mission
to develop, create, promote and present edgy, compelling and
impassioned works that bridge communities through truthful and
entertaining artistry, said co-founder Philip W. Chung.
"This is a chance for Asian American actors to get the opportunity
to do the kind of roles they would not normally be called upon to do
by Hollywood standards," he said. "A big part of our commitment is to
reach out not only to our own community but to other communities as
well and allow these actors to showcase their talents."
The story is about Hannah, a young, beautiful math teacher who
marries an older tea mogul who has a son only a few years younger
than his new wife. The son and the stepmother forge a heated weekly
sexual relationship that transcends any kind of easy decision to end
it. These three main characters find themselves entwined in this love
triangle over a seven-year period. At times, it will make you laugh
or cry, but it will definitely leave you with something to think
about.
"We're a modern society, we're very precise, we like things all
lined up and logical, and it never really happens like that,
especially with emotions and relationships, you just never know,"
said playwright Judy Soo Hoo.
This fast-paced drama is sure to leave you inwardly reflecting how
you would Solve For X as the indeterminable factor of finding love in
all the right or wrong places and times. It talks about moral
ambiguity, emotions, relationships and love in an odd way and delves
into the transgressions and exploration of this forbidden
relationship.
"I want people to make up their own minds about what they've
seen," Soo Hoo said. "I want them to decide for themselves whether
the affair is morally wrong or right."
The play stars Roger Fan ("Better Luck Tomorrow" and "Annapolis,"
due out this summer), Elaine Kao ("Red Doors"), Emily Liu ("Only The
Brave"), Kipp Shiotani ("Only The Brave") and Kelvin Han Yee.
Glendale resident Daniel Hsia thoroughly enjoyed a recent Sunday
matinee performance and compared what his reaction to the play was
