Currently playing at the La Jolla Playhouse until Sunday, October 16.

A Blog View by Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti

Kristina Wong in La Jolla Playhouse’s production of KRISTINA WONG, SWEATSHOP OVERLORD;
photo by Jenna Selby.

Not only did the pandemic change the overall dynamic worldwide but theatre-wise, after the lockdown and slowly coming back to live theatre, the big questions came, "what show is next?", and "continue with the season planned before the outbreak?". In an uncertain time where going back to the theatre meant, and still does, being at risk of getting sick, whatever is onstage must be worth it no?

Kristina Wong's, Sweatshop Overlord is the perfect post-pandemic piece (can we call it "post" now?). Written and performed by Wong, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and directed by Chay Yew, Sweatshop' involves a colorful illustration of feelings and triggers during that 2020/2021 episode.

The story starts on the third day of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not knowing the future health protocols and being proactive, using her Chinese heritage of knowing how to sew, passed down from generation to generation, Kristina began sewing masks on her Hello Kitty sewing machine out of bra straps, bedsheets, and whatever she could find that had an elastic. Word got out and she began to get requests from hospitals and underserved communities that needed the protection. She recruited people from all over the country that could sew and deliver. The squad included aunties, her mother, and even children. In order to keep the communication and production going, she also created a Facebook page called Auntie Sewing Squad (ASS) acronym that will have audiences laughing all throughout the 90-minute and change performance. Wong plays herself during that time and how she communicated with everybody by counting the days, and months, and when they surpassed the year mark of sewing facemasks along with new variants. Her performance is flawless, funny, and endearing. Once ASS hits the year-and-a-half mark, they decide to meet in person which is one of the peeks of the piece being that you are seeing all these people work together from geographic corner to corner and have never talked face to face.

Kristina Wong in KRISTINA WONG, SWEATSHOP OVERLORD;
photo by Jenna Selby.

Junghyun Georgia Lee's scenic design aligns perfectly with Wong's style of interpretation, it is colorful and creative using oversized needle cushions, scissors, bobbins, and FEDEX packages made out of cloth that almost look like pillows, and even Kristina's iPhone is made out of fabric. That truly adds to the storytelling as well as the continuous pace she keeps. Linda Cho's costume design with a reversible jumpsuit with all the magical gear to match totally brings another character to this show.

Not only did Kristina Wong shift quickly in a time of need, but she also used her creativity to capture the passage in the best way, through theatre. Sweatshop Overlord is a moving true story about resilience and heroism. A fantastic block of a truly magical quilt.

Currently playing at the La Jolla Playhouse until Sunday, October 16.

For ticket prices and performance times please click here.

The creative team also includes Amith Chandrashaker, Lighting Designer; Mikhail Fiksel, Sound Designer; Caite Hevner, Projection Design; and Jess Slocum, Production Stage Manager.