For someone who is about to make history, Jennifer Lim is looking surprisingly calm and relaxed.
The female lead of American playwright David Henry Hwang's critically acclaimed new play Chinglish, which opened in Chicago in June, will reprise her role on Broadway next month. She will be the first Hong Kong-born stage actress to get top billing on the Great White Way.
'It still feels a little unreal. This is really a dream come true,' said Lim, 32, who plays a strong-willed Chinese official in a comedy rendered in English and Putonghua about an American businessman encountering linguistic and cultural difficulties on a trip to the mainland. 'You can't ask for a better role, a better production and, as far as debuts go and this being a Broadway debut, it's amazing.'
Previews begin on October 11 and the opening is set for October 27.
Directed by Leigh Silverman, Chinglish received favourable reviews during a month-long run in Chicago. It was nominated for a number of Jeffs (the city's theatre awards) including best production, best director, best new work and best actress in principal role.
The show has Hong Kong connections beyond Lim: the translation was done by playwright Candace Chong Mui-ngam and costumes were designed by Anita Yavich, both from the city.