Review - Sixpack @ Jungle Theater
An uncertain new work brings Hmong volleyball to the stage
Jungle Theater’s summer offering got a new name just weeks ago: playwright Katie Ka Vang’s newest work went from Fast Fwd Motions to Sixpack, a nod to Vang’s own history in Hmong volleyball. Which title suits it better? You’ll have to decide for yourself.
Sixpack splits time between past and present. We see main characters Pam (Ashley Horiuchi) and Jou (Dorothy Vang) as adults, then as high schoolers. The play dual-wields themes of fractured friendship and mothers & daughters, but the latter ultimately emerges as the stronger emotional core. While Pam and Jou’s friendship is moderately compelling, Vang struggles at times to settle into a grounded, complex version of the character.
In theatre, when actors’ line delivery is forced or unnatural, it’s hard to tell if it’s an actor-driven issue, misguided directing, or the result of dialogue that still needs the clunkiness shaken out of it. I think all three are at play here.
Several actors struggled with this in moments, but it impeded Jou’s arc the most. Jou takes a seriously drastic action (which isn’t necessarily treated as such by the narrative) to pursue what she wants. I wanted to see her ambition shine—I wished I could’ve seen just how much more it meant to her than Pam. Her moment of betrayal needs higher narrative stakes.
In general, Sixpack falls into the new-work trap of underutilizing dramatic story structure. There’s a lot of there there, from teen pregnancy to family illness, but the sequencing undermines the theatrical impact of those plotlines. If more focus was shifted to Jou’s betrayal, it would provide more forward momentum to what precedes it. Of course, I understand if that isn’t the story playwright Vang wanted to tell—but then you need to find a different way to maintain tension.
Structure issues noted, there’s a lot to like here. Sixpack is consistently funny and from the heart. I went into this expecting it to be another entry in the book of Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves or Clare Barron’s Dance Nation. (No shade to these shows—more that they’ve had a lot of imitators) Introducing an intergenerational element, allowing us to see adult women friendships and rarer archetypes like Wendy, brought something new to the table. I’d like to see this theme of adult friendship shine brighter, especially the close friendship between Pam and Jou’s mothers that is discussed but less seen.
Continuing with the mothers—for me, the standout role was Pagnia Xiong, playing Pam’s mother. She came across as masterfully grounded, and her character really popped as a real woman onstage. While other actors had moments of mild, stiff overacting, Xiong was consistently natural and relaxed into the character. Even in a supporting role, her emotional beats felt genuine and poignant.
While Xiong’s demeanor clearly established her maternal role, I found myself quite confused by the ages of the other characters. Jou’s mother (Dexieng Yang), a hilarious and excellent character, looked and acted younger than Jou herself. Future productions of Sixpack might choose to cast more accordingly with the character’s ages for clarity.
Turning to technical elements, sound designer Erin Bednarz brings excellent work to the table. I enjoyed the Challengers-esque use of music in certain scenes. And listen, folks, we need to talk about those transitions between past and present. I am a huge skeptic for anything that could be derogatorily called “interpretive dance.” But the choreographed movement used here really added an ethereal quality, something I’m always excited to see. Choreographer Sandy Agustin worked with a light touch, and the result is clearly communicated and not too abstract, while still being beautiful and original. A volleyball net covers the proscenium at the top of the show, allowing for a fantastic stunt as the actors spike the ball towards the audience. This little trick packs a big punch, and I’m glad it wasn’t overused. I would love to hear from volleyball players how the casts’ moves stack up—given the two “volleyball consultants” on the billing, it looks like they got a little coaching.
Sixpack jumps between years and themes, building an enjoyable story about friendship and mother/daughter relationships. While this new work could use some tinkering in the plot structure department, viewers are in for a funny and heartwarming night of theater. Come for the volleyball, stay for the mothers.
I saw this show in previews.
Sixpack runs from May 31-June 29th at the Jungle Theater in Minneapolis. Tickets available here.