‘Drum Song’ in a New Light

The day after the conclusion of the Mark Taper Forum’s successful three-month engagement of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical “Flower Drum Song,” four cast members from the sold-out revival arrived at the Leo S. Bing Theater at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Jennifer Paz, who played Mei-Li, Jodi Long (Madame Liang), Jose Llana (Ta) and Sandra Allen (Linda) were a bit sleepy-eyed from the closing-night festivities but eager to watch the 1961 film.

The cast members, who all hope to continue with the show if it goes to Broadway, laughed and sang along during the screening.

On Saturday, LACMA will screen the only remaining original Technicolor print of “Flower Drum Song,” which featured Nancy Kwan.

Over lunch after the screening, the four discussed the film.

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Question: Did any of you see the movie to prepare for the play?

Sandra Allen: That was one of the parts of my research--to see the movie before we started the rehearsal process and to know what I was getting into and taking on the role of Nancy Kwan.... I wanted to see what she had done and then talk to David Henry Hwang [who rewrote the show] to see what direction he was thinking about.

Jodi Long: I had seen it but didn’t want to refresh my memory.... For me it was great to see the opening shots of San Francisco then. I was there when I was a kid in the early ‘60s, so it was really wonderful to have that kind of feel of that period.

Q: It is surprising how different the story lines are in the original compared with the Taper production.

Jose Llana: Even though it’s such a different story, the heart is very much the same in both plays. I think what David brings out more in our version is the inner conflict [between the generations]. I think in the original it’s much more about just a story line, but I think David takes it deeper about self-realization and who you are.

Allen: And facing your demons and basically facing who you are and really how you are growing up and how you are assimilating.

Jennifer Paz: I think David really did a good job of maintaining the spirit of Mei-Li. She is so very strong, but she had such charm in this movie. She was so funny. I really enjoyed her. Everything she said was so innocent. You never felt bad for her at all. I really enjoyed the love story.

Q: Have you ever felt that the original musical or this movie was demeaning to Asians?

Paz: I saw it several times growing up and ... I thought it was very entertaining. It was the first time I had seen Asians acting like Americans. Then seeing it again when I was in high school, I was offended ... the fact it was coming from a Caucasian writer, it was offensive in that way. But it was something I sort of really enjoyed still.

Q: Do you have any favorite moments in the film?

Allen: I love how Nancy Kwan dances the “Grant Avenue” [number]. I had spoken to her because I was interested in just how long the movie-making process was. She said [“Grant Avenue”] was a two-day shoot.

Paz: I loved Mei-Li’s costumes! Umeki is such a minimalist actress. I love her stillness. I love her scene with Ta when he sings, “You Are Beautiful.”

Q: Do you think Hollywood today would make a film version of “Flower Drum Song”?

Paz: I think musicals are coming back.

Llana: I think it would be more toward the angle of an independent film. Compare the film industry now to what there was 40 years ago. There was no such thing as an independent feature, and now if you have a small budget and a gusty director and a gutsy producer, you can make any movie if you want.

Long: If it’s a good story, it doesn’t matter. I think that’s the testament to the success of our show. Not only did we have the Rodgers & Hammerstein music, we had a good story that touched a chord.... If we go on to Broadway and have another hit, I don’t see why this couldn’t be made into a movie. I just think it’s always about the story.

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“Flower Drum Song” screens Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Leo S. Bing Theater at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Admission is $7; $5 for museum and AFI members, seniors and students. For tickets, call (877) 522-6225. For information, call (323) 857-6010.