TheatreWorks’ “The Heart Sellers” Is a True Humorous, Heartwarming Work

By Ron Friedenthal

     TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents a truly humorous, heartwarming production, “The Heart Sellers”, currently performing through April 27 at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts (500 Castro Street) in Mountain View, CA. “The Heart Sellers”, directed by Jennifer Chang, centers on two Asian women, who are navigating their first Thanksgiving in the U.S. in the absence of their medical student husbands. They meet in a grocery store and these two women, Luna, from the Philippines, and Jane from South Korea, find that they have so much in common, despite their different backgrounds. Yet they overcome their challenges of life in America as they prepare Thanksgiving dinner, dreaming of a timely celebration of the human spirit.

     Their descriptions of isolation as new immigrants, and with few interpersonal relationships, makes for interesting dynamics between the two. Fueled by liberal doses of alcohol, the two tentatively begin to find out how much they have in common. In their new circumstances what each of them miss the most is family and friends left behind. Still, this new friendship fulfills much of that need. In the end, they become best friends.

     Nicole Javier portrays Luna, an immigrant from the Philippines, while Narea Kang makes her TheatreWorks debut as Jane, an immigrant from Korea.

     “The Heart Sellers” is humorous throughout, and the two women play the roles well. This production is most timely, especially here in the Bay Area, as many can empathize with what Luna and Jane have to deal with as the themes of this play.

     For tickets or more information please phone 877-662-8978 or visit TheatreWorks.org.

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Photo caption: Luna (Nicole Javier) and Jane (Narea Kang) become fast friends in “The Heart Sellers,” presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley through April 27. (photo by Alessandra Mello)