The Great Wave

by Francis Turnly

On a Japanese beach, teenage sisters Hanako and Reiko are caught up in a storm. Reiko survives while Hanako is lost to the sea. Their mother, however, can't shake the feeling her missing daughter is still alive, and soon family tragedy takes on a global political dimension.

Genres: Plays

124 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, there aren't a lot of contemporary plays in English featuring a completely Asian cast, so for that alone, the play earns plaudits. And it concerns a subject I had never heard about, but which seems all too plausible - namely that North Korea might have kidnaped Japanese citizens and taken them to the Fatherland in order to teach Japanese to spies in order to facilitate espionage operations (although the playwright claims the incidents in the play are entirely fictional). That said, however, the play is longer than necessary, often borders on melodrama, and requires a set that would seem well-nigh impossible for any but the most flush companies to render (including actual sea waves - although I suppose those could be suggested via other means).

[Hanako · Rating 4 out of 5]

i cried a lot. many many times throughout. it took me a bit to get used to the rhythm and format of this play, but once i did it just became more and more touching and engaging. it is really tragic the whole way through, and i do wish there were more happy moments at least to give the characters more dimensions, but it was a beautiful story.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic in a way that gives the events the weight they require. Give me more sister plays please.

[M McCready · Rating 5 out of 5]

when u think u know where a play’s going and then. it Doesn’t. reading something so seemingly fictional and then finding out it acc happened has shook me sm

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply superb

[Sanuli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had quite the few unexpected twists and turns and I usually don't read plays but this was so fantastic that I kept going back to it!

[Isla (lovednonebutyou) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play is INSANE. It's thrilling, and heartwrenching and full of twists and turns. I'm reading it for a class, but I'll almost certainly read it again. Update: okay so I just found out this play is based on real events and holy cow.