{"id":747,"date":"2023-06-07T01:10:12","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T01:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stageraw.com\/remake\/?p=747"},"modified":"2023-06-12T00:40:58","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T00:40:58","slug":"unrivaled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stageraw.com\/remake\/unrivaled\/","title":{"rendered":"Unrivaled"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Unrivaled<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Reviewed by Dana Martin<\/strong>
\nBoston Court and Playwrights Arena<\/em><\/strong>
\nThrough April 23<\/strong><\/p>\n

RECOMMENDED<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Playwright Rosie Narasaki knows that some things never change.\u00a0Unrivaled,<\/em>\u00a0a world premiere co-production of Playwrights Arena and Boston Court, is Narasaki\u2019s contemporary take on an imagined ancient rivalry between two of Japan\u2019s most legendary female poets who traverse the wilds of love, friendship and betrayal.<\/p>\n

Kyoto, Japan, one thousand years ago. The Empress Teishi (Cindy Nguyen) loves a good poem and stacks her court with wordsmiths. The Empress has amassed a group of ladies-in-waiting who also happen to be poets and writers. Among them is her best friend Sei Sh\u014dnagon (Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz), author of\u00a0The Pillow Talk,<\/em>\u00a0as well as her newest lady-in-waiting, Murasaki Shikibu (Katie Kitani), a lyrical phenom who\u2019s currently writing\u00a0The Tale of Genji<\/em>. Both women authored some of the most celebrated and enduring works of Japanese literature, but at court they use their poetry as a tool for expression, propaganda and amusement. Murasaki makes a great impression on Teishi, who longs for authentic friendships. Sei views Murasaki as a threat to her own popularity at court and her friendship with Teishi. She\u2019s jealous of Murasaki\u2019s blossoming relationship with the treacherous Michinaga (David Huynh), Sei\u2019s former lover and Teishi\u2019s ousted uncle who intends to usurp the regency. When Murasaki ultimately falls in love with him, the women\u2019s rivalry runs the gauntlet.<\/p>\n

Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz\u2019 Sei Sh\u014dnagon is pushy, headstrong and condescending, never revealing any underlying vulnerability. Katie Kitani\u2019s Murasaki is straightforward, stalwart and one-dimensional.\u00a0David Huynh<\/a>\u2019s Michinaga is the least developed character and blends into the background. Cindy Nguyen shines as Empress Teishi, the story\u2019s excitable narrator and ingenue.<\/p>\n

Expertly directed by Margaret Shigeko Starbuck, the production is rich and fully realized. Costume designer Jana Ai Morimoto blends 11th<\/sup>\u00a0century Japan with hints of contemporary style, adding an edgy, timeless texture to the story. Yuki Izumihara\u2019s scenic design is sparse yet effective, with multilevel platforms and a screen in the center\u00a0representing various bedrooms and palace locations. Henry Tran\u2019s lighting design is warm and understated and Alyssa Ishii\u2019s sound design adds another subtle layer of complexity, with sounds that ease scenes into transition and frequent bursts of contemporary music.<\/p>\n

The play adopts a generally light, often comedic tone despite the severity of some of its events \u2014 thus dissipating the emotional impact of the story\u2019s outcome. Impending political upheaval is treated lightly and frivolously while chatty, girlish gossip takes focus. The bright, accomplished women have little agency over their own lives and yet their focus is on whether or not they belong. Murasaki\u2019s romantic relationship with Michinaga distracts from the potency of the main storyline and often dovetails into melodrama.<\/p>\n

Unrivaled<\/em>\u00a0is a lovely story about female friendships and perceived competition within them. Narasaki blends a contemporary outlook with ancient personas, synthesizing historical fact, ancient legend and a healthy dose of imagination to portray a compelling rivalry between two 11th<\/sup>\u00a0century Japanese female poets who likely never even knew each other at all.<\/p>\n

Boston Court, 70 N Mentor Ave., Pasadena; Mon., Thurs., Fri.; 8 p.m.; Sat.- Sun. 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; through April 23.\u00a0BostonCourtPasadena.org<\/u>\u00a0or 626.683.6801. Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.<\/em><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”902″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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