YELLOW FACE

Review by Celia Ipiotis

Racial politics categorize people and suggest levels of hierarchical identification. But race is  complicated these days, particularly due to generations of intermarriages. And yet, when a playwright devises a role for an Asian character, is it okay for a Caucasian actor to assume the part? What if the Caucasian is the very best actor, better than all the other Asian actors auditioned? That’s the farcical trigger point for David Henry Hwang’s ironically rich Yellowface. First produced in 2007, when it really felt like a groundbreaking play, the impressive revival at the Todd Haimes Theatre continues to unsettle the senses.

Animatedly directed, once again, by Leigh Silverman, the Yellowface cast is uniformly strong. When DHH (David Henry Hwang) expertly portrayed by Daniel Dae Kim writes a play with an Asian lead, he casts Marcus (Ryan Eggold)– the person he believes to be the best actor. Clearly a Caucasian (of Jewish descent), Marcus is subsequently urged to devise a background story that includes some nebulous Asian threads. 

This scenario is particularly ludicrous because DHH was responsible for spearheading the protests in 1991 against Jonathan Pryce’s starring role in Miss Saigon. The notion that no living Asian actor could equal the Brit playing an engineer of mixed French and Vietnamese parentage generated enormous animus. And according to common practice, to enhance his appearance, Pryce wore eye prosthetics. This whole scenario of using whites as Asians aggravated the community and nearly undermined Cameron MacIntosh’s Broadway opening. However, the show went on, and on, and on with Pryce winning tons of accolades.

The echoes of those protests color the essence of Yellowface as does the suspicion levied on Asians; on “others” in American society. About midpoint, the drama digs into the pain inflicted on DHH’s loving and deeply patriotic father Francis Jue. Helming a Chinese bank in California that falls under government suspicion, Jue’s deeply affecting performance reminds us all how false accusations and suspicions destroy families and fortunes.

At first, DHH stands outside of the devastating controversy engulfing his family, but then an underhanded reporter for the NY Times traps him. Truth falters in the face of perceived impressions driven by another’s physical appearance. What does that say about our country, about race relations, about decency and humanity? A lot.

Written by David Henry Hwang, Yellowface raises potent issues in this 90 minute roller coaster comi-tragedy on Broadway.

EYE ON THE ARTS, NY — Celia Ipiotis