German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig uses the 80 minutes of The Golden Dragon to reflect on globalization and remind us that there are human beings who are invisible and exploited in today's blurred-boundary world. The playwright has concocted an engagingly intricate theatrical exercise with which to convey his points, however broad and obvious they may be. Five actors (Amir Darvish, Joseph Anthony Foronda, Sarah Marshall, K.K. Moggie and Chris Myers) leap across lines of gender, age and ethnicity to portray 16 characters united by connections to an Asian restaurant in an unnamed European metropolis. Director Serge Seiden keeps the ensemble impressively nimble and tight, and the play ultimately delivers visceral and emotional impact that, while not everyone's cup of tea, memorably cuts to the chase, bloodshed and all. To Dec. 11. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
Read Jonathan Padget's full review here.
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