REVIEW: ‘Yellow Face’ deconstructs identity and theatrical representation
Photo: Yellow Face stars Daniel Dae Kim as a character modeled after the playwright, David Henry Hwang. Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus / Provided by Polk & Co. with permission.
NEW YORK — David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face, a topical and thoughtful play that is currently having its Broadway premiere, stars the skilled actor Daniel Dae Kim and continues performances through Sunday, Nov. 24. The show is autobiographical (sort of) and follows Kim’s character as he navigates the world of playwrighting, activism and identity.
Real-life scenarios are the backdrop of this work, which is running at the Todd Haimes Theatre in a Roundabout Theatre Company production. For example, there are asides about the controversial casting of Jonathan Pryce in the original Miss Saigon and the main character’s outspoken criticism of that acting selection. From there, the play progresses into a commentary on identity and how far a mistake can run its course over the years.
Kim is perfect in the show, providing humor and strength to the character of DHH (the playwright’s initials), and bringing along the audience to better understand how speaking up for the Asian American community impacts his character’s personal and professional life. Clearly Kim is portraying a character based on Hwang, but there’s great fun in having this piece of meta-theater play with the question of autobiography and what gets changed when a personal narrative hits the stage. This is a comedy at its heart, but it’s also a puzzle of how art imitates life, and life imitates art.
Hwang is one of the best playwrights of his generation, responsible for the foundational work M. Butterfly, which put him on the playwrighting map. This influential show is one of the main subjects of Yellow Face because its success leads the writer to have a larger voice in the theatrical community. People listened (hopefully) to his criticism of Miss Saigon’s casting, but then in this production his career takes some unexpected turns. DHH’s success leads to a situation in which a white actor passes as Asian in one of his shows. Now, DHH becomes worried that the theatrical world will find him hypocritical for approving of the sin he once lampooned.
Leigh Silverman is a wonderful director and frequent collaborator with Hwang. She is able to help the cast find the funny moments, but she also builds toward the touching parts. One performance that is unforgettable is offered by Francis Jue as HYH, DHH’s father. His stellar performance should come as no surprise because he won multiple awards for the off-Broadway premiere of Yellow Face several years ago, and he has returned to the role to offer even more energy and poetry. His work as HYH is the highlight of an otherwise solid production. His monologues are heartfelt and often hilarious, and his dialogue with his son is perfect at encapsulating the thesis of the piece.
Other supporting actors helping this production are Kevin Del Aguila of Some Like It Hot, Ryan Eggold of TV’s New Amsterdam, Marinda Anderson of Merry Me, Greg Keller of Staff Meal and Shannon Tyo of The Comeuppance.
Yellow Face is an observant and thought-provoking work that makes the audience laugh at the same time it instigates them to ponder the intricacies of identity and representation. This one is a highlight of the fall Broadway season.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Yellow Face, written by David Henry Hwang and directed by Leigh Silverman, stars Daniel Dae Kim, Francis Jue, Kevin Del Aguila, Ryan Eggold, Marinda Anderson, Greg Keller and Shannon Tyo. Runs through Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Todd Haimes Theatre on Broadway. A Roundabout Theatre Company production. Running time: 100 minutes with no intermission. Click here for more information and tickets.
