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Overview
Synopsis
Yellow Face is David Henry Hwang's self-mocking drama about his reaction to the casting of Caucasian actor Jonathan Pryce as a Eurasian character in the Broadway musical, Miss Saigon. Hwang was loudly critical of the casting choice, and he decides to write a play about the experience. He finds the perfect actor, “Marcus G. Dahlman“ to play the lead Eurasian role, only he doesn't realize that Marcus is not Asian. When Hwang discovers that Marcus is white, he invents a story that Marcus has Siberian-Jewish ancestry. Meanwhile, Hwang's father, HYH, is caught in a political contribution scandal, and the two of them are forced to examine their relationship and heritage. Yellow Face is a sideways look at Hwang's common themes of race and assimilation. Almost all actors play multiple roles, many of them real people in politics, the media, and theatre.
Show Information
- Book
- David Henry Hwang
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2007
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 1990 to present; New York City; Los Angeles; Washington D.C.; Boston; San Francisco; the Guizhou Province, China
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- Diverse Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters
Context
Yellow face is a term to describe a white actor using makeup to change the color of their skin while portraying a character of an Asian descent. The concept for Yellow Face is based on David Henry Hwang’s own experience when he was involved in the 1990 protest over the Broadway transfer of Miss Saigon. In the London production, Johnathan Pryce played the role of Engineer (a Eurasian pimp) and wore eye prostheses and bronzing cream to appear “more Asian”. When the production transferred to
to read the context for Yellow Face and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
ACT ONE
As a traditional song of the Dong people plays in the background, former celebrated actor Marcus G. Dahlman reads an email he sent to playwright David Henry Hwang (DHH), describing his incredible experience in the Guizhou Province in China. This email, sent on January 30, 2006, is the first communication DHH has received from Marcus after cutting off contact. DHH reminisces on the scandal he and Marcus found themselves in and reflects on how quickly it all faded from the news
to read the plot for Yellow Face and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Emma Houlahan
Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.