Moving from one prop or boldly colored piece of clothing to another, Maeshiba skillfully expresses the passions proper to each stage of transition. Using complementary recorded voices, her depiction of the transition to America is the most accessible part of the work. Humor and pathos alternate as the life of the often-baffled protagonist unfolds. The choreographer's two unobtrusive assistants (Eva Hiott and Zach Bobst) provide simple gestural support and keep the props (especially during a humorous storm scene) moving.
Especially striking is the emotive range of Maeshiba's choreography and peformance. One moves effortlessly from the intimate self-enclosure of "Dark Room" to the bombastic yells and flapping arms of "We, the Japanese." Maeshbia often reacts passively to the various events of her complex transition. Through her contorted gestures and baffled grimaces, she is moved, pushed, and shoved from one developmental state to another.
