AGAIN: A moving musical I wish I could see again
A review of Nana Dakin’s new play
By Sydney Peshon with art by Natalie Williams
Described as “a musical about what to do when sh*t gets real,""AGAIN,” a musical directed by Nana Dakin, tells a wholesome story about the relationships between two cancer survivors and an estranged sister. It follows Mai See, a Hmong memoirist, as well as Quest, an aspiring filmmaker, as they work together in making a documentary about how Mai went from cancer patient to accredited author, only for them to realize that the bigger story worth focusing in on is why Mai and her sister lost touch.
Despite the heavy themes of chronic illness and grief, “AGAIN” is a whimsical story that centers the power of community. From lucid dreams about a snail with a bedazzled shell to a music number about the challenges of using the bathroom, this campy and quirky musical was able to flawlessly blend absurdity with the serious emotional toll that cancer causes. Along with the compelling plot, this play showcased stunning performances from only four boisterous, zany, caregiving, and charismatic actors, as well as a minimalist set design able to make a bookstore and series of homes come to life.
This musical was held at Theater Mu, a charming theater that prides itself on empowering Asian Americans through theater, believing in universality being found through specificity. The name, Mu, is the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese character for the shaman, someone who connects the heavens and the earth through the tree of life. By providing a voice to the Asian American community, Theater Mu is able to offer insight and empathy of the Asian American culture and heritage to mainstream audiences, something vital when engaging conversation about diversity, something “AGAIN” did a perfect job of illuminating.