Theatre Review: Yellow Face Will Have Showing Your Funny Face
Watching Yellow Face, I was surprised by its message. The hilarious comedy paints itself under the guise of a more common than not discussion, especially in America, over identity and what makes you, at least in looks, your people. In the US, there can be a possessiveness over our races, especially of color, because of the history and economy that comes with each check-box. Yet, to the world, America is the place where all can come, all can dream, and even though a few may rise, those few can come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. If America was a marketing firm, our PR game is untouchable, but Yellow Face reveals our big weakness: fear.
America is like a beautiful face with a giant, Zit pop mark that oddly looks like Bob Saget. You know what I mean…. like those videos of random things that oddly get shaped with celebrity faces such as, pancakes or a group of trees. Its blemishes are undeniable and distracting from what otherwise can be a prettier face to people or, at least, the Hwang family. Daniel Dae Kim is literally a STAR shining before us in his role as David Henry Hwang: a writer, whose art has become acclaimed, particularly, for its Asian representation.
Coming from a wealthy banking family that has made its own historical markers in America, as the first Asian- run bank, David’s family embodies the American dream of being able to rise ranks that you might not have been able to do so anywhere else. He is elite but he still is Asian in America, and his money does not cover him from the racism and fear-mongering that, historically, is against this group. This emboldens him to stand up against issues like, white actors playing Asians, until he, accidentally, hires a white actor to play Asian in his play.
The entire crowd could not stop laughing during Yellow Face. First of all, the audience was filled with Asians, and let me tell you I was HAPPY! I love when people show up for their people. I am the first one with a Puerto Rican flag in any of our art pieces saying, ¨Represent!¨ and ¨Wepa!¨ Everyone was laughing so hard because it is true, for all groups of color, that deciding what is ¨our look¨ can be tricky. Have you seen the size of Asia? There are 48 countries, and nobody looks the same, but that is the arrogant thing about Americans, we really do think we know what ¨Black,¨ looks like or ¨White¨ or ¨Latino.¨ Even ¨Arab¨ has a certain aesthetic, but Brunei and Lebanon are apart Western Asia. Yet, unfortunately, for David , ¨Serbian Jew¨ is not exactly common, and does not often look like Marcus (Ryan Eggold).
Eggold is so sweet as Marcus G: an actor who feels, existentially lost, until he finds a footing, both personally and in career, when David lies about his to mask his error in believing he was biracial or from some Russian adjacent part of Asia. The comedy and tragedy ensues as both try to cover their propaganda/ blunder to continue receiving their fame and fortune amidst a growing probe against Chinese citizens whom, for the 80th millionth in our history, have been accused of trying overthrow the government. Yet, you cannot have and eat your cake too, and the cruelty of these government probes begin to cost lives, as much as livelihoods. Both come to a crossroad on what it means to find your dream/ happiness in spaces where you are not allowed to even enter.
I was very surprised by the beauty of Yellow Face´s final message, that felt most conveyed via characters like, Francis Jue as David’s dad (who needs all the awards for how pulled my heart out via my tears). The full cast of Marinda Anderson, Greg Keller, Kevin Del Aguila, and Shannon Tyoas multiple characters are the prime example of how to do Broadway requires an exceptional amount of talent. Together they prove everyone dreams and, in some ways, across this planet you will meet various reasons, systems, and people that will declare your dream does not belong in their space/ world. Yet, America, to immigrants, gives the chance to fight back at this universal tendency to dream-crush. Here, you can make your own space to thrive, but you do have to watch for the people that will take it, so viciously, because you LOOK like ¨an alien.¨ Written by David Henry Hwang and directed Leigh Silverman, Yellow Face will play until November 24 at the Roundabout Theatre Click Here.
