Cultures Clash in Haunting ‘Woman From the Other Side’

The illusions and pitfalls of trying to escape a troubled past in an adopted culture become strikingly apparent when a seemingly Americanized Filipina encounters a “Woman From the Other Side of the World.”

Linda Faigao-Hall’s well-written new play at East West Players hauntingly affirms the power of a rediscovered heritage to restore the extraordinary to mundane existence. Wryly pitting Emilya (Allison Sie), a pretty single mother who clings ferociously to her hard-won assimilation, against a very traditional ya-ya or nanny (Marilyn Tokuda) fresh off the boat, this frequently comical series of confrontations gradually darkens to encompass reality itself.

It turns out that this ya-ya is also a benevolent witch and, through some creative use of folk music and choreography in Alberto Isaac’s staging, supernatural elements of the world Emilya fled years ago begin to intrude on her increasingly precarious sanctuary.

The fine cast also includes hilarious Beverly Sotelo as Emilya’s trend-hopping friend, Burt Bulos as her sympathetic would-be fiance and lively Tony Johns as her Nintendo-addicted son.

Culture clash is a common enough theme in new L.A. plays, but this one is distinguished by Faigao-Hall’s primary allegiance to principles of good drama; the conflicts are rooted in very personal histories, and she commendably avoids facile resolutions. Her distinction between Emilya’s hardness and true strength is particularly insightful.

A few rough spots involving artificially compressed chronology could be reworked to reserve the sense of alternate reality for the pivotal psychological events; that’s where it’s the most effective.

* “Woman From the Other Side of the World,” East West Players, 4424 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends July 13. $23. (213) 660-0366. Running time: 2 hours.