Brecht’s ‘Jungle’ Does a Time Warp

Bertolt Brecht could not have predicted how disturbing his “Jungle of Cities,” or “Im Dickicht der Stadte,” would be in these PC times. Far worse is that director Frederique Michel does nothing to mitigate the Fu Manchu stereotypes in this City Garage production.

Set in Chicago’s Chinatown in 1912, the play pits the scheming Chinese lumber dealer, Shlink (Richard Grove), against the rural born and raised George Garga (Justin Davanzo). Garga is a simple man who works at a lending library until Shlink has him fired. Garga soon learns the evils of capitalism amid the opium dens and lowlifes of an imaginary Chicago.

Michel effectively enlarges the role of Skinny (Paradorn Thiel), a Chinese clerk, making him a master of ceremonies who explains the scene changes in artificially buoyant tones. Assisting him in this task are three cheongsam-clad women. This makes a stylish, “Cabaret”-like beginning that isn’t adequately maintained. Michel neither re-creates the atmosphere of the pulp fiction novels nor imbues these outdated ideas with updated visions.

More than an attack on human brutality, foolishness and the cruel coldness of urban life, this play reads as a fossilized interpretation of yellow peril-ism. Brecht’s exotica might have fit into the 1920s fascination with the so-called Orient, but it seems dated today--particularly in a Pacific Rim city.

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* “Jungle of Cities,” City Garage, 1340 1/2 4th St. (alley), Santa Monica. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 5:30 p.m. Dark today. Ends Dec. 7. $17.50; Sundays, pay what you can. (310) 319-9939. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.