An American Story encapsulates the intense human drama and turmoil that unfold as the characters wrestle with their unmet dreams. They are forced to confront their own disillusionments by the protagonist's struggle to be freed from her tortured life and to realize her own quest for self-respect and happiness. It is one of the few available plays with a Filipino American theme and offers a realistic and sometimes painful look at the kinds of conflicts which many immigrants face in this society. But despite the somewhat downbeat nature of the story, the play does, in a sense, celebrate the resilience of the human spirit and its ability to withstand fate's unkind blows. In its preparation is the essence of a language and a connection to a culture.
Food is a necessity and much, much more.
It is a celebration of the spirit, a means by which one can taste and consume the moment and be connected to an ongoing tradition. Anatomy of a Springroll was created as a bridge for understanding between people that transcends their differences through the universal and common ground of food. It is easy to forget your own culture while living in that of another. Using large, colorful puppets, elaborately masked and costumed performers and cinematic and photographic elements, Anatomy of a Springroll , conveys a sense of the history and traditions of Vietnam from its ancient past to the present. People's Theater Coalition, Bldg.