Last weekend I had the pleasure and pain of watching Elyse Ribbon's latest project, "Lethal English" at Mao Live House.

As the the creator of Cheeky Monkey Theater, Elyse is no stranger to Beijing and she has been involved in building a base for community theater that stretches beyond the expat community. Last year she brought I Heart Beijing which, along with "Lethal English," is written, directed, and starring the buxom blonde herself. She also brought to the stage "ShiFen Theater Festival" last January in order to showcase several small theater groups working througout Beijing.

Her work is admirable and the result is, while not the highest form of art, something that this city could use more of--original theater for Chinese and foreign audiences.

The show offered two performances each night, one in Chinese and one in English. The cast was David Wang, Melody Zhang, and Elyse Ribbons. Both Chinese actors are graduates of the Central Dramatic Academy in Beijing and have performed in several Chinese language TV shows, movies, and commercials. The sound and lights were run by technical assistant Sheng Liqun and an original soundtrack with songs by Chelsey Mark. Lethal English is in the style of Hollywood film-noires and police dramas with multimedia comic book style backdrops created by Middle Kingdom Studios in Chengdu.

Lethal English was sponsored by several companies including Ruyan, an electric cigarette and cigar company, whose products were used generously throughout the play. And the program claims that part of the proceeds will be given to the DorJe Association, a non-political, non-religious, non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of medical care in China's poorest areas.

In spite of technical difficulties, cancellations, and postponements, the Cheeky Monkey offers Beijing an important cultural event which is in fact drawing from two cultures—east and west to create a performance that can be enjoyed from both sides. It was interesting to see the different audience reactions. For example, the English speaking audience got a laugh out of hearing the cheesy elevator music play when the phone rings, but the Chinese audiences didn't find any humor in it. And the Chinese audiences were more amused with confrontation scene on the bus between a Chinese couple and a nosy "laowai" girl than the expat crowd.

Ribbons expresses, "Most people came expecting to see a comedy, but it's a thriller," as she voices frustration about giggling during her death scene.

When asked about doing the show in two languages Melody Zhang explains, "It is difficult because the way you show feeling is different in another language." This talented young woman plays four roles in the play while the other two actors play the same character the whole time.

As with any art form it is difficult to objectively critique. Perhaps the value of the Cheeky Monkey Theater is in its existence to produce plays designed for expats and local Chinese alike with a little bit of something for both and the result being a deeper understanding of the other.

I say kudos to Elyse and anyone else who brings a touch of spice to Beijing life!