REVIEW:Hidden Tunes— a Powerful Harmony of Voices at La Mama
Hidden Tunes 弦外之影 is a Mando-pop musical accompanied by traditional Chinese instruments. Directed and choregraphed by Sarah Yu, music by Jun Bin Lee. Presented as part of La Mama’s Festival of Mother Tongues from 22 - 24 November at The Motley Bauhaus.
Music: Jun Bin Lee
Book & Lyrics: Jun Bin Lee and Yu Zhi
Director & Choreographer: Sarah Yu
Creative Producer: Bingyao Liu
Assistant Producer: Isabelle Khor
Production Design: Zena Wang
Stage Manager: Kexin “Winni” Wang, Jared Jin
Social Media: Yishan Shen, Isabelle Khor
Cast: Lansy Feng, Yujia Du, Angel Xiao, Yuyang Peng, Jiawen Feng
Musicians: Jun Bin Lee (guitar), Bingyao Liu (yangqin)
Produced by Small Ripples Theatre, the creative team behind “The Best Cabinet Maker” musical.
The cast of Hidden Tunes. Presented as part of La Mama’s Festival of Mother Tongues 2024. Photographer: Darren Thao
Small Ripples Theatre’s second production, Hidden Tunes 弦外之影 is more than just a Mandarin language pop musical, it’s an evocative and timely exploration of gender based violence against women, the bystander effect, friendship, trauma and the complexities of navigating these issues within a multicultural context. The story asks: “What do I do when a friend has experienced sexual assault? Do I stand up? Do I stand out? Do I stand with her?”
Presented as part of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, Hidden Tunes debuted at The Motley Bauhaus in Carlton as part of La Mama Theatre’s Festival of Mother Tongues. Subtitles, an electronic board above the stage that conveys English translations, ensure that the story transcends language barriers.
The story unfolds within the prestigious Hua Yun University, where bright and gifted student Xiao Qian (Lansy Feng) embraces her new life. Feng’s portrayal is captivating -her vivacious energy and naiveté instantly draw us to her. When Xiao Qian becomes the victim of sexual assault by an eminent professor, the ripple effects of her trauma are devastating. The narrative skilfully captures the insidious nature of abuse and explores power imbalances, reputational loss, societal pressures, ridicule on social media, and the struggle to be believed and to be heard.
One of the striking aspects of Hidden Tunes is its exploration of the bystander effect. The consequences of ‘diffusion of responsibility’ on bystander inaction in an academic environment. A Jia (Yujia Du) is Xiao Qian’s closest friend on campus. A Jia grapples deeply with witnessing the crime against her friend and her own, ingrained cultural pressures to remain silent. A well-known and often used Chinese proverb is qiāng dǎ chū tóu niǎo 枪打出头鸟 or "The gun shoots the bird that sticks its head out", which emphasises the danger of drawing unwanted attention or criticism to oneself (with some exceptions e.g. academic excellence). This saying suggests that staying “hidden” or conforming is usually a safer strategy when living within a community. A Jia’s inner turmoil highlights complex dynamics that can confront individuals and prevent them from intervening in situations of abuse. A bystander may experience ‘vicarious trauma’ and they too, have their own internalised and generational issues to deal with.
The music, composed by the talented Jun Bin Lee, with lyrics co-written by Lee and Yu Zhi, blends traditional Chinese instruments with contemporary pop music. The soundscape is somehow both instantly familiar and fresh. Director and choreographer Sarah Yu has done a spectacular job of seamlessly weaving emotionally impactful key moments into the narrative. Live music, with Lee playing the guitar and Bingyao playing a yangqin (an instrument like a harpsichord and xylophone) throughout the one-hour musical play, makes for an immersive small theatre experience.
Hidden Tunes is a heartfelt song of resilience and a call to action for bystander intervention. It serves as a powerful reminder that sexual assault and the lasting trauma it causes, can happen to anyone. Speaking out takes tremendous courage.
Small Ripples Theatre delivers a production that is entertaining, moving and thought provoking. Hidden Tunes is testament to the power of art to spark critical conversations, challenge perspectives and to inspire change. We eagerly await future works from this talented creative team and the exceptional young cast.
Insights from the creative team:
"Writing a musical in my mother tongue, Mandarin, has always been my dream, so I am grateful for the opportunity La Mama Theatre’s Festival of Mother Tongues has provided… The creation journey involves… drawing from my personal journey as a bystander (in many occasions) and a friend of a victim survivor (known as ‘P’).” - Jun Bin Lee, writer & composer
“As a rare Mandarin-speaking musical in Naarm, Australia, it's more than just a performance - it's a space to share our stories, struggles, and growth. It's about bridging human experiences and inviting others to reflect on their own journeys." - Sarah Yu, director and choregrapher
"It’s rare and inspiring to work alongside an all Asian cast and crew in this production. We’re introducing a non-Western perspective to a universal topic." - Bingyao Liu, creative producer & yangqin player
This review is part of MAV’s initiative to foster culturally responsive theatre criticism, amplifying diverse voices and perspectives in the arts. By inviting writers, storytellers and artists to review the works of fellow creatives through the lens of shared lived, or cultural experiences, we aim to highlight the importance of theatre reviews that challenge dominant narratives and provide deeper, culturally grounded perspectives.
