CLOUD MOUNTAIN

Based on the story of her grandparents’ marriage, this epic tale tells of forbidden love in the time surrounding the first World War. Hope Newfield is a young English teacher who falls in love with Liang Po-yu, a Chinese scholar and revolutionary. BD Wong’s fluid voice seems to melt into Hope’s character, and he’s equally adept at portraying the earnest Liang. Because of Wong’s tone, the entire production takes on the quality of reverie, well suited to Cloud Mountain’s retrospective structure. Almost meditative in its overall presentation, Liu’s story touches the part of us that understands how moving and powerful love can be. R.A.P. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 98]