David Henry Hwang's Yellow Face Is a Bold,
Brave Breath of Fresh Air at Theatre Raleigh

Often, plays get labeled as "ahead of their time," and that's certainly a fitting description for David Henry Hwang's Yellow Face, onstage now at Theatre Raleigh, under the direction of Telly Leung. This semi-autobiographical piece, which first premiered in 2007, meshes fact and fantasy as it details the challenges and hard decisions that a playwright (Hwang as "DHH," played by Hansel Tan) must make in his career and in his quest to understand his personal and racial identity.

True to life, DHH goes to bat for the Actors' Equity Association when a non-minority is cast in a minority role. Where the play veers from reality, however, is when Hwang himself accidentally casts a non-minority actor Marcus G. Dahlman (Pascal Pastrana) as an Asian character in his next play. As DHH grapples with his mistake, he's also forced to tackle some tough questions about race, ethnicity, identity, and the many ways in which they intertwine, as well as the conflations and contradictions that sometimes exist within these realms. Perhaps the best summary of the satirical drama that unfolds is when DHH exclaims, "So long as I help Marcus pass as an Asian, I can still fire him for being white."

Parody and sarcasm reign supreme throughout this fast-moving Theatre Raleigh production. A lively cast darts in and out of multiple roles without missing a beat. Ali Evarts is particularly funny as actress Jane Krakowski, a union rep, and many others, whereas Kylie Robinson adds depth to her portrayal of Leah Anne Cho, Hwang's former love interest.

Hansel Tan (center) stars as DHH, playwright David Henry Hwang's semi-fictional alter ego, in Theatre Raleigh's production of Yellow Face

Liam Yates also stands out in his role as a reporter-not-to-be-named who plays a pivotal role in the script's jarring ending. And, while there are plenty of funny moments, they can't compare to the brave and thought-provoking questions posed by the story's more tender touches.

And, speaking of tender, Alan Ariano is absolutely heartwarming as Hwang's father, dubbed "HYH." He's a typical dad, one who loves his son dearly yet struggles to understand him, and Ariano's palpable chemistry with Hansel Tan only serves to deepen the strength of their bond. In fact, in many ways, the story is as much about generational divides as it is about race and identity.

The script is packed with smart subtext and dense dialogue, which means there's a lot to take in. However, the non-threatening tone promotes education and understanding, which broadens its reach and makes it all the more powerful. Some themes may seem a bit "untouchable" or "not-to-be-talked-about" to modern audiences; but they are what makes this story so engaging, so important, and so perfect, if not "safe," for todays' time.

Ultimately, all matters of race aside, this is a story about a father, a son, and the identities and visions that they've created for themselves. It's about what happens when that son comes to understand and appreciate the beautiful innocence of his father's faith in a color blind society -- not one where humans are blind to the issues People of Color face, but one where those issues don't exist at all. It's a future that seems all-too far off, but David Henry Hwang's script and Telly Leung's no-holds-barred direction make you believe that maybe, just maybe, it's possible.

David Henry Hwang's Yellow Face, onstage now at Theatre Raleigh, stars (from left) Ali Evarts, Alan Ariano, Hansel Tan, and Kylie Robinson

David Henry Hwang's YELLOW FACE (In Person at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 29-July 3), directed by Telly Leung and starring Hansel Tan as DHH, Pascal Pastrana as Marcus G. Dahlman, Ali Evarts as Jane Krakowski/Miles Newman & Others, Kylie Robinson as Leah Anne Cho & Others, Brook North as Stuart Ostrow/Rocco Palmieri & Others, Liam Yates as Announcer/FBI Interrogator/Reporter ("Name Withheld on Advice of Counsel"), and Alan Ariano as HYH & Others (Theatre Raleigh at the Theatre Raleigh Arts Center at 6638 Old Wake Forest Rd. in Raleigh). PLAYBILL: https://theatreraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/yellow-face-playbill.pdf. TRAILERS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFUggpGP-jw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXQNUZHo2xs. 2022 MAIN-STAGE SEASON: https://theatreraleigh.com/2022-main-stage-season/. THE PRESENTER/VENUE: https://theatreraleigh.com/, https://www.facebook.com/TheatreRaleigh, https://www.instagram.com/theatre_raleigh/, https://twitter.com/theatreraleigh, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBrPHqUNhtfRMWQ2Ej8Fxeg. DIRECTIONS/PARKING: https://theatreraleigh.com/location-parking/. COVID REQUIREMENTS: https://theatreraleigh.com/covid-19-updates/. THE PLAY: https://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=3970, http://www.iobdb.com/Production/4638, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Face_(play). The Script: http://books.google.com/ (Google Books). THE PLAYWRIGHT: http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/4627, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0404846/, https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Henry-Hwang, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Henry_Hwang. TICKETS: $32 ($30 students, seniors, and active-duty military personnel), plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-832-9997, info@theatreraleigh.com, or boxoffice@theatreraleigh.com. PLEASE DONATE TO: Theatre Raleigh.

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