1 Goldstar Member Review

Goldstar Member

Having very little staging or props, Yaping Pizzo gave an outstanding performance as the sole actor in this historical portrayal of Iris Chang. Her believeable character and the intimate theatre surroundings drew you into the intense life story of Iris Chang. Not having any prior knowledge of the subject matter, I'm now compelled to read Ms. Chang's books. Thank you for an intense night honoring a fallen hero.

Written on Mar 21 2011

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More Information About Broken Willow

Website

http://www.highwaysperformance.org/

Description

Broken Willow is Morris’ interpretation of famed writer, Iris Chang, who committed suicide at 36 years-old in 2004. Chang is best known for her groundbreaking second book, The Rape of Nanking. It documented the massacre of an estimated 300,000 people over several weeks by the Japanese Imperial Army following their invasion of Nanking on December 13, 1937. The New York Times bestseller was lauded by many, especially Chinese citizens and Chinese-Americans, for bringing to light these atrocities.

Broken Willow is a labor of love for Morris, who is enthralled with Chang’s renowned drive and early achievement that was cut-short by her suicide, months after a nervous breakdown. Despite evidence pointing to eventual allied diagnoses of Chang ranging from depression to reactive psychosis (to her subject matter), there is still lingering speculation that she was murdered, because of the cryptic nature of the typed suicide notes.

Depending on one’s perspective, potential killers were either enraged Japanese nationals unable to get over her Nanking book, or nefarious black ops agents unhappy with the book she was writing at the time. That tome was about World War II’s Bataan Death March, where she was also investigating possible complicity by the government to not fully acknowledge what happened (she suffered the breakdown while on a research trip for the book). The infamous Death March involved the brutal killings by the Japanese Imperial Army of POWs that included both hundreds of American and thousands of Filipino soldiers. A prevailing sentiment among survivors has been the U.S. government subordinated their ordeal, in order to place military bases in Japan to keep the U.S.S.R. and China in check (it didn’t help that the Bush Administration influenced the demise of a bill attempting to allow veteran lawsuits based on their slave labor imposed by the Japanese Imperial Army). 

Directed by actor-director, Judith Scott (Dexter, House, Guess Who), Broken Willow pulsates with J.M. Morris’ signature satirical bite within a dramatic setting, reflecting Chang’s signature feistiness. 

About the Ticket Supplier: Highways Performance Space

Highways Performance Space is Southern California's boldest center for new performance. Founded in 1989, Highways continues to be an important alternative cultural center in Los Angeles that encourages fierce new artists from diverse communities to develop and present innovative works.

Highways promotes the development of contemporary socially involved artists and art forms. Our mission is implemented through four programs (the performance space, workshop/university program and two galleries). Annually, Highways co-presents approximately 250 performances by solo dramatic artists, small theater groups, dance companies and spoken word artists; curates and exhibits approximately 12 contemporary visual art exhibits per year with work that explores the boundaries between performing and visual art forms; commissions and premieres new work by outstanding performing artists; organize special events, curate festival, offer residency and educational programs that engage community members in the arts while providing access to professionally-directed instruction.