CHINA DOLL - Marjorie Chan's exciting new play

CHINA DOLL
February 17- March 14, 2004
Tuesday - Saturday @ 8pm
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday @ 2pm
Tarragon Theatre Extra Space,
30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto

Nightwood Theatre presents, China Doll, the story of Su-Ling, a
rebellious young woman in Shanghai at the turn of the century of the
20th century. Raised by her grandmother, Poa-Poa, Su-Ling's tiny
and exquisitely bound feet mark her only real worth as a bride and
as a woman. Her destiny seems clear until she meets the enigmatic
Merchant Li who runs a fabric store and is trying to escape his
past. He teaches the young Su-Ling to read and she is awakened to
a world where her personal struggle is mirrored by an imperialist
country on the brink of change.

As Su-Ling turns sixteen, her dominating grandmother arranges her
engagement into one of Shanghai's elite families, but as a second
wife. Su-Ling moves into the Chen compound and is thrust into the
secretive and lonely world of the concubine, her only companion a
mysterious servant named Ming. Merchant Li manages to sneak Su-Ling
a Mandarin translation of Ibsen's "A Doll's House". As her wedding
preparations surround her, Su-Ling surreptitiously reads on.
Emboldened by Nora's tale, Su-Ling makes a drastic decision that
will alter her world forever.

Directed by Kelly Thornton. Featuring Marjorie Chan (Sui-Ling), Jo
Chim (Poa-Poa), Keira Loughran (Ming) & John Ng (Merchant Li)

Box Office 416.531.1827
Tickets $16 - $30 * Sunday PWYC
For more information, please go to www.nightwoodtheatre.net