|
Website: fu-GEN The immigrant experiences of various ethnic groups entering Canada are diverse with some negative and positive memories, experienced by a group or individuals. In the early days when Canada first allowed Asian minorities to enter, the Chinese (and Indians) were the first groups, mainly to help build the railroad across Canada. After they were used as cheap labour, the government imposed a head tax per person of $500 which in the early 1900s was equivalent to 2 years wages. This policy fee was mainly to deter and exclude further immigration from China into Canada. Fu-GEN, an Asian Canadian theater company in Toronto, produced this play 'lady in the red dress' under Byron Abalos, directed by Nina Lee Aquino, and written by David Yee. The title is a pun on the word redress and red dress. Its main character is Max who is caught in between his profession as negotiator for immigration and the Chinese immigrants, and his personal life having married a Chinese wife and fathered a half-breed son with a mental disability. He is also torn between the attitudes of his race and culture, European Canadian, and that of his deceased wife's and son's, Asian Canadian. There is a female prostitute who wears a red dress who is also mixed blood. The play has a few other characters, who are stuck in stereotypical racist conversations and the 'c' word is used at times to show racism against Chinese. Mysterious music box sounds play through the show which adds a whimsical sentimental mood. Interviewing David Yee, its playwright, the subject of his mixed racial/cultural background seemed to throw him off, but he admitted that his writing is often exploring and based on his Asian side. He said that the Canadian government finally paid about $20,000 each as a redress to old immigrants who could prove with a certificate their payment in the past of $500. To this day, all immigrants have to pay an application and entry fee to the government but it does not have the targeted racism attached since it is applicable to all groups. Also, the government itself is now composed of multicultural and multiracial members to reflect the various backgrounds we come from and to ensure equality and fairness for all immigrants.
| 
