The Department of Drama and Dance's latest production transforms Balch Arena Theater into Studio B, where a new episode of a television series is being filmed. Instead of passive theater-goers, audience members become part of a live studio audience that is encouraged to interact with the show's two hosts, laugh, clap and even take part in the performance itself.
But the sitcom structure only frames the show's true content. This is the English world premiere of "Alarm Clock," a contemporary Chinese play about a downtrodden professor living in Shanghai during the 1990s.
The play begins with a funeral for Kang Renjie (played by sophomore Royi Gavrielov), who is still very much alive. As his family and friends grumble about wasting their time, Renjie tells them why he decided to hold his own funeral before his death. The scene changes, the audience travels back in time, and circumstances unfold.
Renjie works as an associate professor at a university where his colleagues make fun of him and his students treat him with disrespect. Life at home is even worse. His wife, Liu Lan (senior Angi Kang), is constantly nagging him and vociferously regrets their marriage. One of the things that annoys Liu the most is her husband's old alarm clock, which always rings when it's supposed to be quiet, and is always quiet when it's supposed to ring.
The humor of the play translates well into its English incarnation. Liu's interactions with her daughter, Kang Qingqing (senior Kristen Samko), and her daughter's boyfriend, Ma Shuaiying (sophomore Jeewon Kim), are some of the show's highlights. In one memorable scene, Ma gives Liu a back massage on her bed. Soon Liu and her daughter's boyfriend are exchanging massage-induced grunts and moans as Kang watches, mortified.
The cutesy (but effective) domestic humor is sharply undercut by Renjie's truly tragic situation. Bureaucracy and academic politics prevent him from succeeding career-wise, but it's impossible for him to have a happy home unless he somehow advances professionally. This prevalent, underlying bleakness is exactly what playwright Zhao Yaomin intended. Writing during a crackdown on intellectuals by the Chinese government, he wanted to illuminate the plight of Chinese academics without getting completely censured. Yaomin reminds us of the costs of China's progress. The alarm clock given to Renjie by his father is broken; there's no place for it in modern life.
Assistant Professor Claire Conceison, who directed the show, feels that "Alarm Clock" is particularly relevant in light of current events.
"I wanted to bring a contemporary play from China that would help students understand the changes leading up to the Beijing Olympics. It was written in a really interesting time period that is indicative of all the social forces that are still at play," Conceison said. "I feel like I can bring a unique perspective that challenges audiences to step outside the box in the way they see China."
Originally, "Alarm Clock" wasn't presented as a sitcom. Conceison decided to add the live studio twist because she felt "the episodic structure, character relations and plot sequence replicate those present in TV sitcoms." She also felt that the format would allow greater audience engagement and give cast members the unique experience of playing an actor playing a character. Conceison discussed her changes to the show not only with Yaomin, but also with the creator of the first sitcom in China, Ying Da.
"I assume that there's something universal about [the sitcom format], but this is similar to what you would see in China: the two hosts splitting the audience into groups and having contests, mentioning current events, giving prizes and so on," Conceison said.
Balch Arena Theater easily transforms into a soundstage. There is a designated area where the show is 'filmed' and the story takes place. Outside of that area, the cast plays actors offset. They chat, eat and generally chill out. During scene changes, the two hosts (sophomores Kamillah Aklaff and Harrison Stamell), entertain audiences with a number of activities, including jokes and facts about Shanghai in the 1990s. It turns out that the average apartment was smaller than a Carmichael single; maybe Tufts students don't have so much to complain about after all.
Actress Angi Kang feels that "Alarm Clock" will appeal to students in several ways. "The comedy makes it kind of fun for Tufts students to watch, but it's also enjoyable on a different level," she said. "It's education but still very relatable."
The show runs from Tuesday, April 8 through Saturday, April 12. Each performance begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are seven dollars except on Thursday, April 10, when they are only one dollar. "Alarm Clock" is both funny and thought-provoking, serving as a wake-up call for many who see it.
