Cathay: Three Tales of China

Cathay: Three Tales of China, by Ping Chong and Shaanxi Folk Art Theatre, is a theatrical triptych that weaves together tales from far-flung eras of China’s past and present, mixing puppetry and actors. With a little magic, hints at reincarnation and the promise of Karma, Chong’s Chinese stories take audiences from fabled ancient times through the tumult of the 20th century to its economically powerful present. The three tales, of an emperor and his consort, World War Two’s consequences in a country village, and a contemporary “grand hotel” collage of international tourists and business people, converge in a resolution of forgiveness and hope.