Writer: ChenTao Shen
Director: Shuyi Alice Wang
Until Spring Comes is a short, yet interesting solo piece that explores the barriers faced by those who are perceived to be different from others.
This 45-minute solo play peels away the layers of what makes a person be “different”. To do this, Nuo Cheng portrays a young woman who has recently undergone surgery. She is healing nicely, but she must deal with the new reality of her situation. She has a colostomy bag connected to her stomach. Though she strives to return to her new normal, she faces internal and external struggles, largely from her boyfriend, who is also the director of a play she is to star in.
Tensions between the two mount and then reach a boiling point by the end of this production. Though this story involves multiple characters, only one actor is on stage. Cheng throws her whole heart into this production. Her emotions are clearly visible and are a delight to watch. She easily portrays a conflicted woman on the cusp of a transformation.
This play has an interesting mix of visual and audio effects. As soon as you enter the theatre, voices can be heard overhead. Whispering conversations that can be slightly understood but are mainly unclear. This usage of audio continues as voices, sometimes from a known source and other times not, will occur overhead occasionally.
In addition, images are projected onto two different media. One on the curtain behind the actor and another onto a circular screen that stands above her. This creates interesting visual symbolism that supports the current dialogue. However, at times this is also distracting and leads to uncertainties about where to look. In addition, the audio is occasionally too loud, and there is an instance when it is hard to understand what is being said at the height of the story.
Regardless, these special effects do a nice job at showcasing Cheng’s emotional state along with her acting. This is a refreshing piece and should have a future.
Reviewed on 16 January 2026
