Review: WOLF PLAY is the Must-See of the Year at Big Idea Theatre

If you see anything this year, it should be Hansol Jung’s Wolf Play at Big Idea Theatre. This decidedly unique, award-winning work isn’t your typical family drama. It’s an unexpected combination of puppetry, humor, and boxing that explores what makes a family. Although the subject matter can be heavy at times, Jung keeps the dialogue engaging and adds a touch of whimsy through the eyes of an astute, yet damaged, child. Director Jackie Martin has tackled this difficult piece and assembled a remarkable cast that brings complex themes, shifting identities, and emotional tensions vividly to life. The result is an unusual and thought-provoking play about the journey we take to find our pack.

Wolf Play centers on a young boy who has been adopted from South Korea and is now being given to another family through a questionable online arrangement. His new parents, Robin and Ash, have very different ideas about what their family should look like. Robin is eager to become a mother, while Ash, a boxer preparing for a professional bout, is much less certain about parenthood. Complicating matters are Peter, the boy’s original adoptive father, and Robin’s brother Ryan, who is also Ash’s trainer. Robin’s thoughts of what a mother’s role should be often overshadow her son’s actual needs. Curiously, Ash is the one who bonds with the boy, who takes the audience with him as he narrates with poignant introspection into his adopted persona. The boy, Jeenu, is represented by a puppet who takes on the characteristics of a wolf; specifically, a lone wolf who is searching for his pack. The puppet reinforces the idea that Jeenu is being treated as an object, while his alter ego gives him a way to make sense of his world. A wolf, after all, understands the importance of finding a pack.

Jung’s characters are layered and fascinating, even when they’re sometimes difficult to like. The actors’ performances are central to making the relationships and themes in the show feel believable. Mayette McDonald captures Robin’s desperation to become a mother with an aching intensity. Eileen Hoang is compelling as Ash, teeming with reluctance that develops into fondness and a mama bear spirit. Her ability to effectively portray recognition of Jeenu’s kindred spirit is powerfully moving. Eric Craig’s Peter and Brandon Lancaster’s Ryan are equally frustrating characters, one dealing with indecision and the other with machismo, but their performances are flawless as they struggle together with their shortcomings. Of course, the focal point of the play is Jeenu, or Wolf, portrayed and puppeteered by Matthew Hanjoong. Hanjoong is brilliant, bringing depth to the character and making the puppet feel alive. This group makes Wolf Play both funny and heartbreaking, inviting discussion about what makes a family and how far some will go to get what they want.

Wolf Play is a unique experience, and that is a big part of its appeal. Easy answers aren’t wrapped in a neat two-hour package. Instead, it leaves the audience to grapple with questions that will stay with them long after the bows.

Wolf Play plays at Big Idea Theatre through August 29th. Tickets may be found online at bigideatheatre.org or by calling the Box Office at (916) 960-3036.

Photo credit: Greyson Horst

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