Review: Radar LA, "Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam" at the Kirk Douglas Theatre

"Before you become something, you have to exist first." 

This was the sign posted in Latin above Headmaster Connelly's office at one of actor's (playwright and artist Trieu Tran) first of many high schools. Something he would remember for years and something that would transform his life philosophy. In his life story, Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam, Trieu expresses his extremely moving, tolling, and dramatic journey from his early, early childhood in Vietnam, to Canada, to Thailand to Boston and San Francisco. 

This show is extremely captivating for a number of reasons. The story is ultra engaging. Again, for those of you that know how much I'm not on board with one-man shows, this is saying a lot. But his stories of extreme racism, blood and family warfare made my white girl drama seem like trash. Trieu has a way of making you really see the value in the little blessings in life, no matter how small. He makes you realize how lucky you are, or how you're not the only one facing struggles. On a different note, I absolutely loved the hip hop lyricism of certain parts of the show. But the physicality goes beyond hip hop. Trieu is a great dancer and an incredible mover. The physicality of the piece allows the audience to see all the characters he describes, by the way he creeps through the forests of Vietnam to the way he swaggers down the streets of South Boston.  

Trieu's honesty is refreshing. For all the moments of darkness, he brings light to his hardships in a beautiful, enlightening and truly free spirited way. He has a natural talent for pulling you into the room with him, sensing his anger, frustration, delight and surprise. I was lucky to watch the show twice before writing this review, and I enjoyed it equally both times. If he were to write a book, I would love to read it, but there is something about his story that makes it made for the stage. His honesty and passion makes me want to root for him; I want to be on his team. His painful memories, combined with joyful ones are an overly necessary contribution to the Radar LA festival and something that nearly everyone in Los Angeles needs to experience.

Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam ran from September 14th to October 6th at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City in rotation with two other one-man shows as part of the Radar LA Theatre Festival.