1 March 2002
Laiyan Man

"The Sun is Shining" is the latest creation from Mu Lan, the British-Oriental theatre company set up in 1989.

The story centres around the stormy relationship between a mixed-race city trader, Dave Li and his ex-alcoholic girlfriend Lorna McRae. Dave is the type of character you thought (or rather hoped) died-out in the 1980's. Hugely successful, with a loud and brash "cockney barrow-boy" exterior, which hides an inner conflict of identity.

Lorna, his Scottish girlfriend,is soft and sensitive and therefore completely opposite to Dave. As a recovering alcoholic, she has confronted all her demons and tries to get Dave to confront his.

The confusion over race and identity are touched upon, but Dave's Chinese origins are not fully explored. In the end you get the feeling that the play is more about a clash of personalities and lifestyle, rather than an in depth exploraton into the issue of identity. If you are looking for deep perspective of British-Chinese mixed race identity, you won't find it here.

But that doesn't seem to matter because you soon become immersed and swept away by the individual performances as the play switches between monologue and dialogue. Matt Wilkinson's writing and direction are superb. Daniel York's and Pauline Lynch's performances are both excellent.

Set in London, New York, Reykjavik and Corfu "The Sun is Shining" captures perfectly the fast-paced, hyperactive lifestyle of the 21st Century, post-Generation X city dweller. Go and see it!

Kings Head Islington, until March 17th 2002.
Box Office: 020 7226 1916