HIDDEN TUNES - Musical Theatre Review

WHAT: Hidden Tunes
WHEN: 22 - 24 November 2024 (also 29 November 2024 at Library at The Dock)
WHERE: La Mama (The Motley Bauhaus)
COMPOSED BY: Jun Bin Lee
BOOK & LYRICS BY: Jun Bin Lee and Yu Zhi

DIRECTED & CHOREOGRAPHED BY: Sarah Yu
DESIGN BY: Zena Wang
PERFORMED BY: Angel Xiao, Yujia Du, Jiawen Feng, Lansy Feng, Jun Bin Lee, Bingyao Liu, and Yuyang Peng
STAGE MANAGED BY: Jared Jin and Kexin Wang

Yujia Du and Angel Xiao - photo supplied

Tucked away in the tiny, but excellent theatre space at The Motley Bauhaus, a new musical was brought into the world. Presented by La Mama as part of their Festival of Mother Tongues, Hidden Tunes is a Mando-pop musical which packs a real punch. The great news is that even though the main season is already over, there is an extra performance on 29 November at Library at The Dock so I would snatch up tickets while you can!

Hidden Tunes was created by Small Ripples Theatre and this is their second production. Small Ripples creates new musicals for the Asian diaspora although I have to say Hidden Tunes is an extremely universal topic and treatment! It is performed in Mandarin but there are English surtitles, so you don't lose a single beat as this powerful tale of abuse, friendship, social media, and moral dilemmas fills the space. Accompanying the singers are the glorious sounds of the traditional yangqin (played by Bingyao Liu) and the acoustic guitar (played by composer Jun Bin Lee).

Hidden Tunes begins with all the joy and anticipation you can imagine exuding from an entourage of young students beginning their academic career at a prestige music conservatory. They dream big dreams and, yes, there is some rivalry and the newest wunderkind (A Jia played by Yujia Du) enters the fray. There is some low key excluding and gossip amongst the ensemble (performed by Angel Xiao, Yuyan Peng, and Jiawen Feng), but eventually the protagonists - A Jia and Xiao Qian (Lansy Feng) - become friends and start working together. 

Xiao Qian is also receiving extra tutoring from one of the greatest musicians and lecturer. One day she has to visit him late at night at his home rather than in his office and she is assaulted. A Jia sees her emerge clearly distraught. A Jia has guessed what has happened but decides to 'stay out of it'. Xiao Qian's studies and ambitions fall away in a tragic breakdown as she still has to continue classes with the lecturer. Her friends don't understand what is happening and the on-line trolling starts. (My favourite scene is the chorus playing the Netizens!). In the meantime, A Jia is pushed further and further into the quandary on what to do.

What is brilliant about Hidden Tunes is the depth of understanding in the story telling. This is not just someone's rote telling of a story we have all heard about before. The truths which lie in Xiao Qian's tortured collapse, in A Jia's reluctance to get involved, and even in the chorus's work in their various support roles, are delicate and nuanced. Hidden Tunes isn't about the victim or the perpetrator. Hidden Tunes is about the bystanders. It doesn't proselytise about what people should do, but it is a roadmap on what to look for when someone's behaviour changes dramatically and what NOT to do.

Sarah Yu (director and choreographer) has done an excellent job of keeping the blocking and the dance work simple and clean. The space is small, and it allows the performers to focus on their character work and also their singing. Most of the cast are quite young and still developing their vocal strength so this is smart and avoids the risk of pitchiness. 

Hidden Tunes is a gem of a show in concept, construction, and execution. I think the ending could use some fleshing out. I would have liked to see what A Jia does after the big moment of revelation. The surtitles could also use a bit of help to find a lyricism to match the beautiful sounds of the Mandarin lyrics and tempo but that would happen in the next stage of development I presume. 

All of the performances are fantastic. Lansy Feng's collapse is painful to watch, Yujia Du's performance builds the pressure perfectly, and Angel Xiao is a breath of lightness as she steps out of the chorus to play the third friend in the circle.

Musically, the two live musicians work well playing the traditional acoustic instruments. The rest of the music - including electronic music - is played back through the PA and blends excellently. I will say sometimes the volume was a touch loud for the young singers but I also have to confess I was sitting right next to a loudspeaker.

I know Hidden Tunes sounds like it is a niche show for a Mandarin speaking audience, but it really isn't. This is one of the best new musicals this year in my opinion and it would be a shame if you missed it because you think you won't understand it or will feel disenfranchised because of the language. Hidden Tunes really is sooooooo good. 

4 Stars

PS: Extra information and support material is handed out after the show. After all this story is a true one for too many young people in some form or another...