The Sugar-Coated Bullets of the Bourgeoisie begins in communist China, a country going through a seismic revolution. Common people are given (so called) power for the first time in centuries, and the play presents a single family who have no idea what to do with it.
Sounds amazing, right? I spent the first hour and a half becoming absorbed into the play, by some fantastic acting and an engaging writing style - it was dramatic, heart-pounding, and well on its way to becoming a perfect show.
However, it felt as though the ball was dropped slightly in the second half. The play switches to modern day China - the second half features the same cast playing different characters in the present - and we see people who are struggling to make a living by working in factories, who have forgotten their power. Don't get me wrong, the humour and references were great, the acting was still spot on, but it seemed like the story and the theme just died out a bit, and the ending left me feeling unsatisfied.
To go from themes of poverty and corruption to more silly scenes - in one the group hold a competition to see who can impersonate the first communist leader of China - seems ill-fitting, and doesn't tackle the issues of modern-day China with quite the same tenacity as the first half discussed Mao's Communist China.
Whilst still a brilliant play in parts, this is definitely let down by the second half. Nevertheless, the acting and dialogue are memorable, and despite its flaws, this show is certainly going places.
* * * * *
Showing until 18 September at Jubilee Hall. For tickets and full information, visit here.
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