Chimerica (play)

Playwright Lucy Kirkwood was commissioned to write the play that would become Chimerica in 2006, seven years before it eventually premiered.[2] Kirkwood estimated that she spent about 100,000 hours working on the play, some of which time was spent shortening its initially four-and-a-half hour run time.[3]

The title of the play comes from the portmanteau Chimerica, coined by Niall Ferguson and Moritz Schularick, referring to the significance of the sociopolitical relationship between China and America, especially in the global economy.[4] Kirkwood has also cited the similarity in sound between 'Chimerica' and the word 'chimera' as a reason for the title.[2]

Chimerica follows photojournalist Joe Schofield, who photographed the unidentified Tank Man in Tiananmen Square in 1989 during the deadly pro-democracy protests. Twenty years later, Chinese dissident and ESL teacher Zhang Lin, who was present during the 1989 riots, assists Joe in his quest to find Tank Man. Zhang Lin's fiancee, Liuli, died in the protests and flashback scenes between Liuli and Zhang Lin appear throughout the play. Joe's journalist colleagues recommend that Joe not pursue the Tank Man. After Joe returns to America, where Lin suggests the Tank Man is living, Zhang Lin is tortured by the Chinese authorities. Joe develops a relationship with Englishwoman, Tessa, who is profiling the Chinese population so that her employer can have an advantage in China.[5] At the end of the play, it is revealed that Zhang Lin was the Tank Man.

• Joe Schofield, an American photojournalist
• Frank Hadley, Joe's editor
• Mel Stanwick, a journalist
• Tessa Kendrick, a market analyst
• Zhang Lin, an ESL teacher and Joe's primary contact in China
• Liuli, Zhang Lin's former fiancée, killed during Tiananmen Square protests
• Benny, Zhang Lin's nephew
• Zhang Wei, Zhang Lin's brother, Benny's assistant
• Paul Kramer, in 1989 was the Beijing correspondent for The Herald
• Feng Meihui, a Chinese businesswoman living in New York
• Jennifer Lee, Feng Meihui's daughter
• Maria Dubiecki, a senator
• David Barker, Maria's assistant
• Mary Chang, a Chinese woman living in New York
• Ming Xiaoli, Zhang Lin's neighbour
• Doreen, Frank's assistant
• Michelle, an Asian-American police officer
• Officer Hyte, Michelle's partner
• Herb, an American tourist, married to Barb
• Barb, an American tourist, married to Herb
• Kate, a British reporter at Tiananmen Square
• Deng, a young Chinese businesswoman
• Peter Rourke, an American CEO of a company with an office in Beijing
• Dawn, Peter's secretary
• Judy, a lawyer for Peter's company
• Pengsi, a Chinese man living in New York
• Pengsi's Wife
• Guard
• Nurse
• Woman in Strip Club
• Drug Dealer[6]

The play as a whole has been criticized for its ambitious runtime of over three hours.[16][19][20]

The Almeida production was described in one review[21] as "fluent and seductive", with a "filmic quality", with the multiple set changes well-handled. The premiere was well received and garnered many awards.

• Tank Man § Legacy