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‘In Search of the Kitchen Gods’: A Philly actor’s ‘gift of hope’ to counter anti-Asian sentiment
“As an Asian woman, the past two years have been fraught with anti-Asian sentiment and violence,” actor Bi Jean Ngo said. “My mission is to counter that violence and negativity with my experience.
by Jane M. Von Bergen, For The Inquirer
Updated Jun 8, 2022
Bi Jean Ngo is worried — worried that the joy and optimism she experienced growing up as the child of political refugees from South Vietnam is being suffocated in today’s toxic atmosphere of racism and hatred.
An actor and a playwright, Ngo has turned to the stage for a remedy. She is offering — as a gift of love and hope, she says — her one-woman show In Search of the Kitchen Gods presented by 1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s theater company dedicated to comedy.
“As an Asian woman, the past two years have been fraught with anti-Asian sentiment and violence,” Ngo said. “My mission is to counter that violence and negativity with my experience. What better way to do that than with joy and love and by inviting them to get to know me and my family? Hearing stories over mealtime can bring people together.”
She described her parents as true patriots and believers in democracy forced to flee Vietnam when the Communist government in North Vietnam took over the entire country after the Vietnam War.
“I was raised with a dual identity with the Vietnamese values of family and honor,” she said, “while expressing myself as a free individual that this country so beautifully gave me the opportunity to be.
“It was important for my parents that I remember their story, keep their families close, and share the recipes that came from Mom to Mom.”
Since she first started working on Kitchen Gods, her father, Ngo-Vuong Toai, passed away. “I feel like I’m honoring him with this project. I feel like I’m celebrating a piece of Asian American life that people don’t know about,” Ngo said.
As she was growing up in Washington, D.C, her parents received support from both the Vietnamese community and the Catholic Church. Ngo, who has lived in Philadelphia for 17 years, discovered similar support in Philadelphia’s theater community.
“I see the same reciprocity existing among the theater community here,” she said. “Philadelphia is like a big small town. The theater community takes care of each other. What a great ecosystem we have.”
Ngo particularly cites the friendship of 1812 Productions. 1812′s producing artistic director and cofounder Jennifer Childs was among those who mentored Ngo via 1812 Production’s Jilline Ringle Solo Performance program. The program, named in honor of the Philadelphia actor, singer, and cabaret artist who died of breast cancer in 2005, provides financial and theatrical support for women artists developing solo work.
1812 Productions is a group dedicated to comedy, so Ngo promises laughter. Makoto Hirano directs. And there will be food — prepared onstage and ready for the audience to sample.
June 8-26, 1812 Productions at Theatre Exile, 1340 S. 13th St., Phila. 215-592-9560 or 1812productions.org.