Emerson Stage’s ‘I Love XXX’ a Meditation on Youth, Change, and Society

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“I love that we haven’t even started yet. I love that we don’t ever plan to stop.”

The word “love” was uttered dozens of times in the Jackie Liebergott Black Box last weekend, though it had nothing to do with Valentine’s Day. In a show about collectivism, independence, and politics, the Emerson Stage production of I Love XXX transported the audience through history. 

Photos by Craig Bailey/Perspective Photo

The play, originally written in 1994 by Meng Jinghui, was translated into English by Claire Conceison, who attended a talkback following the final performance. Beginning in 1900, I Love XXX spans the 20th century as a group of youth find their place in socialist China. The play is a mix of comedic dialogue, dancing, and singing, alongside serious historical references, such as the Boxer Rebellion. Conceison said this is the first performance of I Love XXX by American collegiate performers. 

“The young people are looking outward,” Conceison commented during the talkback. “I think it’s the fact that they see their lives as part of a bigger world, and that love, for our youth, never goes away.”

The play was set in a classroom, with chairs hanging from the ceiling, vintage furniture, and piles of books. HowlRound Theatre Commons Associate Producer Alison Qu ‘20, who co-directed the show with Performing Arts Assistant Professor Tushar Mathew, called the set a “liminal space” that could be reminiscent of any country, though there are specific references to China. Bilingual ensemble members did multiple scenes in both Mandarin and English. 

“Those are the two languages that I live and know as an artist,” Qu said. “The bilingual moments reference back to the original Chinese script, and lean into the idea of individualism versus collectivism. The individual actors get to devise their own moment, but the collective transforms over time.”

I Love XXX is a devised play. Whereas in a “straight play,” actors start from a script, a devised play is a form of theatre where the performing ensemble are also the collaborators in script-making and storytelling. Riley Sage MacMoyle ’25 was co-dramaturg and an ensemble cast member, and this was her first devised theater experience. 

“Learning how to collaborate and create with others, finding new ways to connect and move your body, and that silence on stage can be just as powerful [as] speaking text was world-changing for me,” MacMoyle said. “I LOVE XXX is imprinted on my heart forever.” 

During the play, actors travelled through time and explored their “love” for different things, which varied from the births of historical figures like Pablo Picasso to different “isms,” such as collectivism and romanticism. Actors collectively danced, chanted, and sang as an ensemble, but also shared individual monologues and stories.  

“It was such a cool experience, I don’t want it to be over,” said Linran Zhang ’25, who was part of the ensemble cast. “It was such a cool ensemble and such genius people.”

As a bilingual theatermaker, Qu said that various cross-cultural references and language barriers may not connect with every audience member. 

“This is such an experimental piece, you’re not supposed to understand everything,” Qu said. “You don’t need to know why, you just have to listen.”