The Kung Fu Zombies Saga Combines Action, Comedy, and Deep Reflection

If anything is likely to get my butt into a theater seat, it’s the promise of kung fu or the promise of zombies. When you combine the two, the result is nothing short of magical.

I had the pleasure of attending the preview of Theater Mu’s production of The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior and Cannibals, on now at the gorgeous industrial Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis, and highly recommend it.

Norm Muñoz as Hanuman (left) and Hannah Nguyen as Arun (right). Photo by Rich Ryan/Courtesy of Theater Mu

As the title would suggest, the play—written by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay and directed by Lily Tung Crystal—features copious amounts of both kung fu and zombies, but it more poignantly speaks to the love passed down ancestral lines through ritual and culture. It combines Dunagphouxay Vongsay’s 2013 Kung Fu Zombies vs. Cannibals with a new prequel story, Kung Fu Zombies vs. Shaman Warrior. The stage combat is at times performed in slow motion, allowing the audience to really absorb the complexity of the movement, and at other times explosive, with actors who appear well trained and highly skilled. The undercurrent of hip-hop music provides an unexpected and delightful heartbeat thrum to the action.

A strong cast keeps the storytelling by turns emotional and quippy, often offering one-liners to break the tension when it’s needed the most. Katie Bradley’s Mara is a standout performance for over-the-top villainy, giving us a character that we love to hate, with a sense of comedic timing that you could set your watch by and facial expressions so big you could see them from the back of the house.

Katie Bradley as Mara does battle with zombies. Photo by Rich Ryan/Courtesy of Theater Mu

The staging of the show is nothing short of brilliant, with sturdy wooden structures designed by Mina Kinukawa adding height and depth to the stage and serving as the backdrop for some truly remarkable projector work by Miko Simmons. Simmons creates a pond with reflections using a well-placed sheet and lights, realistic-looking flames engulfing a village, birds flying through the lush canopy of a jungle, and a carnival with food stands. The costumer, Mariko de Montalte, has blended beautiful shamanic regalia with contemporary clothes and, naturally, the tattered garb of the recently deceased.

Sandy Agustin as Mae Thao (left), Hannah Nguyen as Arun (center), and Soudavone Khamvongsa as Saeng (right). Photo by Rich Ryan/Courtesy of Theater Mu

If you’re thinking about going (and you should!), here’s what you need to know. Tickets are offered under a “pay as you are” model, meaning that if you typically purchase theater tickets for $45, Theater Mu asks that you purchase at that rate, but if that price is not accessible for you, there is a sliding scale starting at $10, which is a steal for a show like this one. The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior and Cannibals has a 15-minute intermission and a run time of 2 hours and 45 minutes. It’s recommended for audience members aged 16 years and older and includes staged violence, gore, and cannibalism; adult language; sexual harassment and grooming; and mention of trauma from bombings. Please also note that there are flashing lights. Audience members who need to exit the production are able to do so at any time and can access the lobby via either elevator or stairs.

The show runs through August 13 at the Luminary Arts Center, 700 North 1st Street, Minneapolis. Masks are encouraged at all performances and required at all Sunday performances. There will be talkbacks after the July 30 and August 6 performances and a Laotian diaspora discussion on August 12. ASL interpretation will be provided on July 26, and audio description is available on July 30. Every Saturday-evening performance includes captions projected onto the screen.

Learn more about The Kung Fu Zombies Saga on the Theater Mu website.