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225 words, 1 minute read time.
Many East Asian parents are under intense social pressure for their children to do well. They are expected to get an A+ grade. They should go to a prestigious university. They need to get a good job with a high salary. They should also marry well. That’s the theme explored in Puzzle through the medium of dance. One daughter resists all the pressures put upon her. Another is compliant. She is pulled this way and that by her parents. She’s tied in knots as she tries to please everyone’s conflicting demands.
The mother herself is under pressure. She is trying to keep up with the demands of her busy life. This is shown by her constantly running between a stick of lipstick. She moves between shoes, an apron, wet wipes, a running top, and a constantly ringing mobile phone.
The puzzle is how to wish the best for your child yet recognise their own choices. A voice in the background says parental ‘love should not be conditional on meeting our expectations.’ As this production shows, navigating through these conflicting demands is a real puzzle. Parents believe that if you don’t keep running, your peers will leave you behind.
This production resonated well with the audience, who – apart from your reviewer – were all young East Asian women. They loved this thought-provoking production.
Reviewed by David Kerr
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