The Oldest Boy – San Diego Rep

The Oldest Boy is centered on the themes of religion, parenthood and at its’ core; love. The story is about an American woman, her Tibetan husband and their 3-year-old child who is believed to be a lama or a reincarnation of a high Buddhist spiritual teacher. She finds this information out when one day two Buddhist monks randomly knock on her door. They are convinced he was once a wise teacher and it becomes obvious when the boy seems to recognize things from the past that he could never have known. The play is written by celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl and directed by Sam Woodhouse. Produced by the San Diego Repertory Theater, it is currently playing at the Lyceum Theater through December 6^th.

Credit: Daren Scott

The American mother played by Amanda Sitton did a phenomenal job of providing depth and emotion to her role. She had to contend with the question of having to give up her child to Buddhism and face her own religious beliefs and she was able to convey that perfectly. The costumes were beautiful and decorative and helped to add even more color to the background and setting of Tibet.

The play was introspective and intriguing with a comical twist to it. The puppetry that is performed to make the little boy Tenzin come to life was exciting to watch. It added a whimsical feeling and helped balance out the emotional moments. There were also dancers who showed off traditional Tibetan and Buddhist dances and this only added to the magic of the scenes. The story teaches audiences about the resilient spirit of the Buddhists and their compassion for all religions. I quite enjoyed the play and would recommend it as an experience that will mesmerize viewers.

Tickets range between $20-$55 and can be purchased at the box office or online at:

http://www.sdrep.org/showinfo.php?showid=225