A regular girl's sugar plum fairy
By Jessica Warren
Nov. 12, 2003 9:00 p.m.
With Halloween over and Thanksgiving quickly approaching,
it’s time for typical holiday plays like “The
Nutcracker” to run their course. Playwright Sandra Tsing Loh,
however, prefers to tell the tale of trying out for “The
Nutcracker.”
“Sugar Plum Fairy” is an unconventional Christmas
play about a clumsy, overweight girl who dreams of winning the lead
role of Clara in her dance school’s production of “The
Nutcracker.” Written and performed by Loh, this one-woman
show, directed by David Schweizer, is currently running at the
Geffen Playhouse.
“The play is a metaphor about trying to fit into a box
that you just don’t fit into,” said Loh. “But
once you stop trying to fit into that box, you find some other
beautiful thing that you can do.”
The 12-year-old in the play is also a metaphor for every girl
who ever wanted to be the princess, only to be cast as the tree.
Loh drew from her personal childhood experiences for inspiration in
writing the sarcastic play.
“It’s based on an actual experience of mine from
growing up in Southern California and going into ballet when I was
little,” said Loh. “When I was a teenager, I auditioned
for the local “˜Nutcracker,’ hoping to be Clara but
ended up being a flower because I happened to have hit puberty
early and was towering over the boys.”
As a one-person performance, “Sugar Plum Fairy”
poses many physical and mental challenges for Loh, but she enjoys
the experience.
“It is certainly physically demanding,” said Loh.
“But hopefully the audience will laugh because that gives me
space to breathe and catch my breath so I can go on. Also
it’s a very elaborate set – like a character in itself – with
lots of costumes and stuff, so it doesn’t feel very lonely up
there at all.”
Loh is a bit of a chameleon herself, able to switch from
full-time mom to regular NPR contributor to actress without much
trouble. According to Loh, each vocation has its advantage.
“Performing is fun, but it’s also nice to know that
when you’re up there, that hour and a half is going to be
done no matter what,” said Loh. “Writing is a great
thing to do in sweat pants on your own schedule at home. In a way
having those two poles is a nice back and forth thing for me to be
able to do.”
Loh is hoping to get the same positive response from California
audiences as from those in Seattle, her last performance stop. The
Malibu native is excited to perform “Sugar Plum Fairy”
in Southern California at such a festive and apropos time.
“(The time) is very “˜Christmas in Southern
California,'” said Loh. “The cactus with the
little ornament hanging off of it, or the dead palm tree with a
string of lights. I’m very excited to perform this
play.”
“Sugar Plum Fairy” plays at the Geffen Playhouse
from Nov. 11 to Dec. 21. Tickets are $10 for UCLA student. For more
information, call (310) 208-5454.
