For 2 hours and 45 minutes, I was not an audience member sitting in a theatre on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Vancouver, but I was a Cambodian experiencing life under the Khmer Rouge.
The Khmer Rouge, led by their leader Pol Pot (an abbreviation for “Political Potential”), caused the genocide of between 1 to 2 million Cambodians. More at Tuol Sleng | Photos from Pol Pot’s secret prison | History <https://www.tuolsleng.com/>.
Back in 2013 I travelled to Cambodia for 3 weeks with 7 other volunteers. We travelled with HOPE International Development Agency, a local charity based in New Westminster. I wrote a blog about our experience, entitled To Cambodia with HOPE <https://cyndacambodia2013.travellerspoint.com/toc/>.
Playwright Lauren Yee did not disappoint and exceeded all expectations as she told the story of the Cambodian genocide from the point of view of a survivor and the survivor’s daughter. She has written a story that is one you should and could never forget. It is the history of what humans did to their fellow humans. The suffering that the Cambodian people endured and the grief of their country’s immense loss. The genocide of the educated, teachers, doctors, police, military and those with religious beliefs.
An all-Asian cast, Kimberly-Ann Troung and Raugi Yu gave stellar performances. Kimberly-Ann, a talented musician and actress, gave us a taste of the music of the times. Raugi was spectacular; skillfully conveying a variety of conflicting emotions. As a parent I understood his need to protect his daughter. To not expose her to the atrocities he had lived through. He would often joke with his daughter and make light of things. Being serious, meant darkness.
As is often typical in Asian families, you bury the past, the hurt and the pain. You don’t share with your children. You want to protect them from suffering and perhaps you want to protect yourself and forget. There are many aspects of an Asian parent’s life that they never tell their children. Sometimes, only through finding documents and photographs upon their parent’s death, do children learn of a life lived long ago.
Jay Leonard Juatco had multiple roles; playing a carefree young man to that of a prison guard, who had the unenviable job of ending lives.
Duch, played by Nicco Lorenzo Garcia, narrated and kept the audience engaged and wanting more. His delivery and dance moves entertained us and we never knew where he would turn up, on or off the stage.
Kayla Sakura Charchuk and Jun Kung gave supporting performances and rounded out the cast perfectly.
Throughout the play we were treated to Cambodian Rock and Roll, songs by the band, Dengue Fever, sung in the Khmer language. The mood of music changed greatly in the 50s, 60s and 70s, largely influenced by world events. Music went from carefree and lighthearted, to serious, as wars erupted in Cambodia, Vietnam and elsewhere in the world. Stephanie Kong’s costume design was a clever mix of western rock and roll styles with traditional Cambodian fabrics.
Cambodian Rock Band was brought to life by Director Jivesh Parasram. When the play ended in a roar of applause and standing ovations, I was emotionally and physically exhausted. I had been to the Killing Fields, stood inside s21 and saw over a hundred photographs of those who died. I felt it all then and again now.
Cambodian Rock Band is a play to see and never forget. You can see it now until April 6, 2025 at The Arts Club, Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, 2750 Granville St, Vancouver.
By Cynda Yeasting
