Ghost Story

Within a single Chinatown room, we see fragments of the lives of the Chinese immigrants who lived there over a span of sixty years – a bachelor in the 1890s, a small family group in the 1920s, a young post-war couple with children in the 1940s, and a grandfather with his two Americanized grandsons in the 1950s. The characters are ghosts, transparent as they fade in and out, mixing their lives and family stories. As these ghosts occupy the same room for one last time, their dialogues are interwoven and always return to the subject of ghosts, a strong part of Chinese tradition and belief. Each character is associated with a particular decade and decor. Only the furniture – a table and some chairs – remain the same. The changing clothing styles and furnishings show transitions within the Chinese immigrant community as new generations become westernized. Even so, links to the past always remain. These immigrant stories are also linked to traditional music – Peking Opera performed (according to tradition) by a man and Cantonese Opera music performed by some of New York Chinatown’s senior citizens. The only constant factor is the room itself, which becomes a witness to many lives. “Ghost Story” is a work about time and memory.