When playwright David Henry Hwang became the first Asian
American to win a Tony for the best play for
”
M. Butterfly,
”
and a three time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for drama, you
know you’re dealing with a formidable force.
‘Yellow Face’: When playwright David Henry Hwang became the first Asian American to win a Tony for the best play for “M. Butterfly,” and a three time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for drama, you know you’re dealing with a formidable force. “Yellow Face” is the antitheses of the deep dramatic “M. Butterfly” that convincingly tells the unbelievable story of a French Diplomat’s affair with a Chinese spy. “Yellow Face” is a combination of satire, seriousness and comedy that brings home the racial division of actors in theatre and – if you scratch the surface of the play – the world for that matter.
The plot dwells on the fact that Asian roles are played by non-Asian actors and shows how the American Asian theatrical community tries to adjust the imbalance to almost no avail and with much irony. The ride gives the audience magnificent writing with superb actors and knowledgeable, expert direction.
Obie Award winner Francis Jue is delicious as Hwang’s father and various other parts that he treats with delicate perfection. He lovingly morphs into each lesser character as if it were the most important role in the production. He is a joy to observe and produces special moments in theatre that are perfection.
Pun Bandhu plays DHH, (David Henry Hwang), the author balancing the conflict between artistic freedom and racism. (Hwang the author will not admit to what is actual or fictional. He calls his work a mockumentary that does include various documented incidents from his life.) Bandhu is believable as the author and gives a sterling performance.
The rest of the cast – Amy Resnick, Thomas Azar, Tina Chilip, Robert Ernst and Howard Swain are all strong TheatreWorks alumni – brilliantly play a variety of characters where timing is imperative.
Artistic director Robert Kelly directs this incomparable group with his usual panache and elegance.
“Yellow Face” is a distinctive story that will leave the audience with much to think about and will know they have spent an evening with fine theatre.
***
‘Yellow Face’
Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View
Through: Sept. 20
Tickets: $24-$62
Details: (650) 463-1960 or theatreworks.org
‘Spamalot’
The inaugural season for Broadway San Jose, the Bay Area’s newest showcase for top Broadway shows, brings “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” as its first offering. It is taken from the successful movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and the 2005 Broadway hit for which Eric Idle wrote the book, music and lyrics with John Du Prez. Python groupies and non-obsessed Python theater goers will be gleefully satisfied with all the absurdity and insanity.
The timing for this wild, mad story about a more-than-slightly demented King Arthur searching for knights to join his round table to find the Holy Grail, couldn’t be better. It’s just what is needed in these unstable times. We need a good belly laugh; we need an outrageously funny, unbelievable plot to jar our senses somewhere else for a few hours.
The potty jokes, the irreverence to the dead of the black plague, old favorites like the flatulent French Taunter and a production number that takes a page from Mel Brooks, tells you that “You won’t succeed on Broadway if you don’t have any Jews.” They are all par for the course, and surprisingly inoffensive. Supported by a talented well-directed cast, it proves what I have always said, “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it.”
The songs are typically British with lyrics that tell more than you ever wanted to know on the subject at hand – but hilarious and well done. Old Python favorites are present with the legless and armless knight, the obsessed demented, unhinged flying killer bunny, tap dancing knights and can can kicking nymphs.
Christopher Gurr as King Arthur carries the role with just the right amount of innocence and cluelessness.
Merle Dandridge’s Lady of the Lake has an amazing range and chews scenery like it has never been chewed before. The plot of the show wouldn’t have it any other way.
Check any political correctness and brainpower at the door, sit back, let it all fall where it may and enjoy. You might as well – it’s there and it’s not going away.
Camille Bounds is the theater and arts editor for the Western Division of Sunrise Publications.
***
‘Spamalot’
Where: San Jose Center For The Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose
Through: Sept. 20
Tickets: $22-$88
Details: (408) 792-4111 or www.sjtix.com
