A story told well is timeless. Especially a story popular enough to be a written work of fiction, a motion picture and now a new stage production in Seattle. The Repertory Actors Theatre (ReAct) production of "The Joy Luck Club," based on Amy Tan's best-selling novel, recounts the lives of three generations of Chinese and Chinese-American women, the secrets they each harbor, and the struggle to bridge the gaps that separate mother from daughter.

This story, in all its presented formats, is a challenging one to tell. It's a sprawling work with many lead characters and multiple story lines that intertwine and juxtapose one another. Amy Tan's original book had the advantages of textual pace and inner monologue. Wayne Wang's film had the advantages of post-production editing and cinematic effects. I believe David Hsieh, the stage play's writer, director and founding artistic director of ReAct, had the most challenging assignment of all: to engage the viewer with a story packed with characters, eras, settings and emotions all within the limits of live theatre. Hsieh's adaptation and production are to be admired.
In terms of sheer number of roles, this is no stripped down presentation. The multiethnic cast, some 30 members, prove that there are truly no small parts. Each character, regardless of prominence, builds on one another to propel the play forward.

Although told mostly from the character of June, a member of the youngest generation (played marvelously by Katie Tupper), each lead actor gets to test her thespian prowess with combinations of turbulent dialogue, shifts in age, and emotional range. Modest props, sets and costume changes allow the actors to maneuver smoothly from one setting to the next without jarring the narrative focus. And the artful use of shadow casting to highlight some of the most dramatic moments in the play is brilliant.

Like the three generations of women in the story, this new stage adaptation of "The Joy Luck Club" is a true descendant that both resembles the accessibility of the motion picture as well as the spirit of Amy Tan's best-selling novel. It's a welcome addition to the family.

The Joy Luck Club plays at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center through Feb. 9. Call (206) 364-3283.