Review: DID YOU EAT (밥 먹었니?) A one-woman-show with multiple characters shines in Fort Worth at Amphibian Stage

 

Did You Eat (밥 먹었니?)

Written and performed by: Zoë Kim
Directed by: Chris Yejin
Produced by Amphibian Stage

Audience Rating: R (scenes include child abuse and cruelty)
Running Time: 65 minutes- NO INTERMISSION
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
Sound Level: Comfortable
Audio/Visuals To Prepare For: Subtitles- Easy to Read

Review By Dan Rogers

The preview performance of Did You Eat (밥 먹었니?) at the Amphibian Stage, 120 Main Street, Fort Worth (leave early if you are traversing across the Metroplex) reveals a fascinating autobiographical journey through love- love of family and experiences- and the reality of growing up as a female Korean/American. Actress and playwright Zoë Kim, along with director Chris Yejin, takes the audience through the autobiographical life of a sensitive Korean girl growing up to womanhood, and the complicated experiences and trauma associated with her life.

Writer/Performer Zoë Kim is very energetic, charismatic, and personable as she breaks the fourth wall and brings the audience along on her journey, with fear, laughter, and struggles (some quite graphic). Do not despair, the rose petals do show up, eventually.

Applause to the creative Lighting Design by Roma Flowers- complimenting the mood and the situation of this fascinating one woman show, with subtitles that are specific and easy to see as Kim highlights them with her contortionist ability. What ability! Kim spirals, twists, bends, emotes, dances, and communicates. She uses her face, hands, body and posture on multiple levels. She dances, cowers, does push-ups, and is choked. She gets frustrated with her mother and her grandmother, humiliated by her father, loved by her grandfather. We see these individuals through her ability to alter voice and posture with clarity.

The creative unique choreography by Iris McCloughan is accompanied with music by Sound Designer Claudia Jenkins Martinez- it accents the mood and the situation. When Kim embodies her grandmother, one can see the cane- by placement of the hands, holding that tired withered body up- this is a graphic specific art form of pantomime and revelation- a journey of happiness, sorrow, fear, depression, disappointment, frustration, and growth. Kim is a talent to be appreciated, as audiences at the Public Theatre in New York will attest. Scenic Designer Zhuosi “Joyce” He has created a multi-level set with platforms at different positions and different angles giving Kim the room to flow and perform without impediment. The audience literally cannot take their eyes off her. When she exits one opening anticipatory heads swivel to the opposite opening in eager on-the-edge-of-their-seats hope that she reappears. This is a strong, engaging, entertaining production.

Did You Eat (밥 먹었니?) is running through April 12th at the Amphibian Stage, 120 Main Street, Fort Worth, (leave early if you are traversing across the Metroplex) The house opens at 7:30pm. You will laugh, cry, applaud and feel this unique presentation. It is good for you… just what the doctor ordered. Tickets available at amphibianstage.com

DR