Six people in traditional clothing sit closely together, touching hands and smiling, on a dimly lit stage with a dark background.
Six people in traditional attire sit closely together, holding hands and focusing on a central object, creating an intimate, supportive atmosphere on stage.

Five things to know about BINA'S SIX APPLES

March 1, 2022

Chris Moses, Dan Reardon Director of Education and Associate Artistic Director

March 11 – March 27, 2022
Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre

By Director of Education, Dan Reardon and Associate Artistic Director, Chris Moses

  1. BINA’S SIX APPLES is a world premiere play by celebrated playwright Lloyd Suh. Lloyd’s artistic impulse for writing the piece was to create a multi-generational theatrical experience that could speak to his father (who emigrated from Korea in the 1950s) and to his own daughters (who were born in NY in the 2010s) simultaneously. To achieve this ambitious goal, he mined his own family’s lore– turning a humble personal story about apples into a universal fable about resilience. In so doing, he created a piece filled with wisdom that is usually reserved for ancient parables.  
     
  2. The story follows a remarkable 12-year-old girl, Bina, on her journey to reunite with her family during the unfathomable tragedy of the Korean War. While the play is set against this backdrop, it is ultimately a story brimming with hope that celebrates the strength and perseverance of a young person overcoming impossible odds. I can think of no better parable for our own time.
     
  3. Despite the stakes of the conflict, Lloyd has written a piece filled with humor that surprises and delights at every turn. That said, it does deal with the horrors of war and is best suited for ages 9 and up.
     
  4. The play is directed by Eric Ting, the Artistic Director of Cal Shakes, a regional theatre in the Bay Area that is committed to reimaging classic work through the lens of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Eric returns to the Alliance after too long of a hiatus, having previously directed the critically acclaimed WARRIOR CLASS in our Hertz Stage in 2013.
     
  5. This is a co-production with the Tony Award-winning Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, the largest children’s theatre in the country. The critical response from the initial run in Minneapolis could not have been stronger. Here’s one example from the Star Tribune: “Although this original must-see work takes place at the Children’s Theatre, you don’t need a child companion as an excuse to see it. Take your adult self with a friend or two.” The critical response could not have reinforced more boldly our belief that expertly crafted stories that deal with fundamental truths about human experience dissolve the boundaries between plays for children and plays for adults. There are, in fact, stories that speak to all ages. BINA’S SIX APPLES is gloriously one of those rare gems.