'Red Flamboyant' Looks at Vietnamese Women with HIV/AIDS

Performances begin on April 24 for the world premiere production of Don Nguyen's "Red Flamboyant," directed by Laura Savia. The play, which is based on the true story of a small group of women living with HIV/AIDS in modern-day Vietnam, will play a limited engagement at Anderson Hall at Calvary St. George's, through May 16.

"It affected me, being Vietnamese, and that the country I was born in had such a huge problem," said playwright Dan Nguyen, speaking of the New York Times story about the women that inspired him to write the play. "The stigma around it was shocking to me and I wondered how I could get a germ of a play from that."

Nguyen brought to the stage the true story of Pham Thi Hue, who runs the Red Flamboyant Group (which is supported by the U.S. organization Vietnam Relief Service Organization), a small group of women who are all living with HIV/AIDS in present day Vietnam. Most of the women were infected by their husbands, who were intravenous drug users. Most of their husbands were already dead. All lost their jobs when their employer discovered their serostatus.

The group is named after Haiphong Red Flamboyant, the name of a flower, and is meant to provide women with solace, and prevent them from growing sick and dying alone. But neighbors don't want them around. Bricks smash the windows of their small house. The locals fear the women will give them HIV. Hue is forced to seek help from a stubborn government official to protect her group. Although many members die, the group continues to grow, and spawn new groups as more HIV-positive women come forward.

"Red Flamboyant" is the winner of the Aurora GAP prize, finalist for the Woodward International Playwriting Prize, finalist for the O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, participant in the Ojai Playwrights Festival, finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, and nominated for the L. Arnold Weissberger Award.

This unique theatrical work tells its story with single bungee technology (aerial), puppetry, and straightforward acting in the round, unlikely heroes emerge both in this world and the next as these poor women reach new heights of courage.

Nguyen artfully weaves into "Red Flamboyant" arguably the most badass warriors from the first century A.D., The Trung Sisters. These two legendary heroines of Vietnam fought to liberate the country from centuries of Chinese rule, seeking revenge after the Chinese killed one sister's husband. These warriors serve to empower the current day women in their fight against ignorance.

Wanting to avoid an "overwhelming experience for the audience," Nguyen said, "I had to find a less realistic way. The Trung sisters' legend demanded more heightened reality. It dictated the voice of the play."

Nguyen saw parallels between the Trung sisters and Hue, and wrote them into the play, saying, "She was a modern-day warrior who could be juxtaposed with the ancient female of Vietnam to make a great story."

When he finally found Hue and told her about the play he was writing, she told him of the Vietnamese belief that "if you do something great, you are a sibling of the Trung sisters."
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The production stars Don Castro* ("Turning The Glass Around"; Teatro C�rculo) as Diem, Criena House (Nat'l Tour "The Faraways") as Nga/Triung Ni, Karen Huie* ("Songs of Harmony"; East West Players) as Mrs. Sau, Ruibo Qian as Vung/Trung Trac, and Nancy Sun as Hue.
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The production features scenic design by Anne Beyersdorfer ("Out of the Basement"; ATA), costume design by Stephanie Levin, lighting design by Alan Edwards, aerial choreography by Karen Furhman, Grounded Aerial, and fight choreography by Lisa Kopitsky. Josh Leibert ("The Other Josh Cohen") is the sound designer, Jeanette Yew is the puppet designer, Kim Vockel is the mask designer, Alex Foley is the props master, and Arybells Figueredo ("The Memory Show") is the Production Stage Manager.
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The Olmstead Salon is hosting the show, in a new partnership with Firebone Theatre in residency at Calvary St. George in Gramercy Park.

Ten percent of ticket sales go to the Vietnam Relief Organization to women with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. This production is also supported by Amazin Lethi and the Amazin Lethi Foundation, HIV/AIDS Advocacy.
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"Red Flamboyant" will play a limited engagement through May 16 at Anderson Hall at Calvary St. George's, 61 Gramercy Park North, New York, NY 10010. Tickets are $18 online at www.BrownPaperTickets.com.