There are a number of firsts associated with writer-actor Robert Tsonos' upcoming play The Hum. It's having its premiere in Hong Kong; it will be the first performance for the Canadian's Sometimes Y Theatre group; it's the first time this group of actors has worked together; and, for producer Penny Day, it will be her first foray away from family-friendly productions.
'This is [Tsonos'] first production in Hong Kong and it was exciting to be on the ground with a brand new thing here,' says Day, whose Purple Turtle Theatre company is best known for staging children's works. 'It's new energy. There are a lot of groups around but they've been around for a long time. It was nice to meet some new people and have a new perspective on the business.'
The Hum gets its name from the background buzz in the busy urban location in which it's set. The black comedy revolves around an underdog political hopeful preparing for his make-or-break election-day speech. Local actor Henry Coombs plays the politician who fears his wife (New Zealand actress Suzy Sampson) is having an affair with his assistant (played by Tsonos).
Adding to the intrigue is a speech coach (American actor Michael Pizzuto) who is trying desperately to get Coombs' character to concentrate on the task at hand. The climax of the play is an election-eve speech night, when everyone's motivations are revealed to each other and the audience.
'The politician's wife is having an affair with the assistant and the speech coach is trying get the politician to focus on this big speech he's going to make, but he's constantly being drawn away by what's going on behind his back,' says Tsonos. 'So he's totally unfocused, not concentrating and worrying about other things - it's the tension between what's going on in his personal life and this speech that he's trying to focus on. Then there's the buzz, the hum of a major city. That's the connection to Hong Kong. It's a strong play to open up to audiences here with.'
Pulling the whole ensemble together is director Giles Burton, a well known face on the British theatre scene and in the Czech Republic, where he has worked at the Prague Fringe Festival.
Any similarities between the play and the recent Hong Kong election are purely coincidental, says Tsonos. Besides, the production is about human relationships rather than politics. However, Day says the elements of power, corruption, money and adultery will resonate with the Hong Kong public.