October 28, 2009
By Kerry Reid
Curated by Jamil Khoury, this revue looks at how Broadway and Tin Pan Alley have portrayed cultures along the ancient trade route from Japan to the Mediterranean. The sly and thoughtful assortment of songs ranges from South Pacific's "Carefully Taught" to a delightful "Slow Boat to China," and the mostly Asian cast add personal reminiscences that tend to focus on what it's like to be a second-generation actor with skeptical immigrant parents. The stories are touching, if repetitive, and David Rhee's how-I-got-that-show tale about landing a part in the Broadway company of Thoroughly Modern Millie segues nicely into "Stranger in Paradise" from Kismet. The intimate cabaret setting and ingratiating performances add up to a pleasant journey through novel musical territory.