Glowing Words for The Language Archive
When the applause for Julia Cho’s The Language Archive died down, First Nighters headed for their cars and the short drive to South Coast Plaza's Marché Moderne restaurant.
Entering under the penthouse canopy, they were greeted by models lavishly adorned with Mikimoto pearls. Little did they know that before the evening was over, everyone would leave with a $250 gift certificate from Mikimoto!
After admiring the pearl creations, guests entered Marché Moderne where they sipped from a choice of wines (or the evening's signature drink, Blue Pearl with vodka, mango and blueberry puree) and chose from passed hors d'oeuvres that included hamachi with yuzu pearls, shrimp and scallop brochettes, mini angus burgers, merguez hot dogs and mint emulsion and french fry cones. During the evening, guests were encouraged to gather at the patio bread station which offered French bistro specialties and later (at dessert time) were tempted by passion profiteroles and mini chocolate gateaus.
As they nibbled and sipped away, the conversation turned to the play they had just enjoyed, the second Julia Cho world premiere to be produced by SCR. Everyone agreed that it was an extraordinary evening of theatre. Accolades were relayed to the artists as they arrived—the playwright, who was accompanied by her mother; the director Mark Brokaw; the talented cast members and their spouses and friends; and the play's designers—all of whom accepted the enthusiastic praise, which was echoed in the Los Angeles Times on Monday morning:
“Language and love are the twin themes of Julia Cho’s The Language Archive, a loopy excursion into the difficulty of finding words for what lies in our hearts…”
“Springs surreal surprises…”
“Uniquely blends absurdist farce with sentimental comedy…”
And, finally, “What lingers in the memory after The Language Archive is over are the story’s whiplash turns and unexpected lurches that encapsulate romantic fate…as expressively as any lustrous poetic phrase.”
