298 words, 2 minutes read time.
When Cathy spotted a strange red glow in the sky she realised that something was wrong. It was the destructive Eaton fire in California. It stopped half a mile from her home. The neighbourhood was reduced to rubble, speculators moved in to buy up land for buttons and build apartments for huge profit, but despite it all the community kept together. This caused her to think that in times of chaos we have no choice but to survive and do what we can in the moment.
Cathy was reminded of her ‘Ah-Ma’ – granny in in Fujianese. In this funny and poignant story, Cathy’s Ah-Ma comes to life for the audience. Stories of how she coped with her brother‘s suicide, her strong loving relationship with Cathy, how she ‘wrapped me in the warmth of her presence.’ She recalls as a child running tearfully after a bus when her Ah-Ma went away for a month – a whole month – at New Year. She wasn’t just a grandmother, she was hope, she was safety for the young Cathy. Whether Cathy was in away in Hong Kong or in the US to study, her Ah-Ma wanted to know, ‘Have you eaten enough? Are you warm enough?’
Then, ten years ago, her beloved Ah-Ma began to fade away with dementia. This wonderful lady, who never learned to read or write yet practised signing her own name in a notepad couldn’t take care of herself anymore.
How Cathy and her Ah-Ma coped with all that life threw at them is a touching story of love and survival. It’s bound to touch the hearts of many who’ve known similar circumstances. Kasen Tsui brings this bittersweet story to life with minimal props, a chair, a shirt and a little notebook – and remarkable stage presence. Don’t miss this.
Reviewed by David Kerr
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