Shanghai Dolls

Review by Jude

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shanghai Dolls by Amy Ng tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Lan Ping (Gabby Wong) and Li Lin (Millicent Wong), two women united by their love and talent for theatre. Set against the backdrop of Communist China, as politics and war ripple through the country, they are ultimately forced to choose between preserving their bond or fuelling a cultural revolution. One becomes the silenced wife of Chairman Mao Zedong, the other, the first female director in China.

There’s a meta-theatrical quality to the play that resonates deeply. The debate around theatre’s role—whether as a vehicle for truth or propaganda—feels both timely and universal. One character sees theatre as a way to express the people’s voice; the other views it as a tool to serve the state. Watching that tension unfold adds a compelling intellectual layer.

At first, the performances felt a bit overacted and lacked believability, making it hard to emotionally connect with the characters. Whether this theatricality was a deliberate contrast to the more grounded portrayals later is unclear. By the end, however, both actors delivered authentic, moving performances—a testament to their range. Still, the early impression lingered.

Visually, the show is elevated by a dynamic, moveable set by Jean Chan, which filled the stage while also giving space for striking text and image projections by Akhila Krishnan. These added emotional depth and historical context, allowing the narrative to span decades in just 80 minutes. Lighting by Aideen Malone, combined with Nicole T. Chang’s sound design, seamlessly transported the audience into the heart of China.

It was beautiful to see this kind of representation on stage —highlighting a culture and history too rarely explored in Western theatre. Shanghai Dolls leaves a lasting impression and a desire to learn more about the real women behind the story.

A thought-provoking piece with promise—even if it didn’t fully land.