The trajectory of Chinese politics and society takes on a new discourse when two broke actresses, Lan Ping/Jiang Qing also known as Madame Mao played by Gabby Wong. And Li Lin/Sun Weishi played by Millicent Wong meet in Shanghai at auditions for Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, during the Central Plains War and the Japanese invasion of the 1930s. Through this, a deep bond within their friendship was born. Both are pursuing independent yet conflicting paths within their lives as one becomes China’s first female director and the other a cultural oppressor.

Playwright Amy Ng’s takes us on a journey through the story of two of the most influential women in Chinese history. Navigating through the personal and polical conflicts women in power face in communist China. There is a rich wealth of history spaning decades flashing before our eyes as newspaper bulletins, most of which not easily digestable nor memorable. Due to this, the play is a duologue that lacks the needed full bodied backstory to humanise the characters. Within the play, there is mention of the understanding of the ’emotional undercurrent within the text’ but this does not seem to transcend onto the stage. Directed by Katie Posner, the set encompasses revolving panels and lighting, mainly a spotlight or red lighting to illustrate the changing of setting, pace and the many refereces as well as connotations to the colours red or blue. This is a creative use of the set which could be been explored further.

Though the play does strengthen in the most poignant scene, in which Sun Weishi is being tortured at a covert black operations site, this is where Millicent Wong comes to life and delivers a stellar performance in physical theatre and raw emotion in vulnerability, as we get a glimpse into the her internal struggle at the breakdown of the friendship, the death of her dreams and using her final moments to help Madame Mao see the error of her ways.

But this was not enough to tighten and bring the play together, as there was a vast amount of history sqeeezed into 80 minutes, leaving little room for chacter development and for the characters to tell their story. Not much can be taken away from this play or an understanding the inner working of Madame Mao and Sun Weishi’s mind. There was more to unpack and little seen. The play ends on a photo of Sun Weishi with updates on her the cause of her death, followed by footage of Madame Mao’s notorious trial and her prison sentencing.

Shanghai Dolls is currently at the Kiln Theatre until May 10th 2025.

Running Time
80 minutes, no interval
Dates
8th May – 10th May 2025
Price
From £15

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