A Review of ‘Yellow Face’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Key Art for ‘Yellow Face’ Courtesy of Audible.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Audible Original, ‘Yellow Face’.
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One particular aspect of modern storytelling that is quite fascinating, is how many poignant and relevant stories about our world, only dig deep into one important topic at a time. As though there is a concern that perhaps audiences cannot handle a bevy of examinations or that going into anything else might detract from the point the storyteller is trying to hammer home. Granted, none of this bad, because a detailed bit of commentary on politics, for instance, is impactful and thoughtful. But audiences can handle more, and they are eager sometimes to just feast over topics that are powerful and important and would have no qualms with a story that provides them with much to discuss and ponder upon.

Which is why we should always celebrate stories that do just that, since they are the bold ones that truly give the audience what they want and truly examine the complexities of the world, giving us plenty to think about and plenty to learn from and it just so happens that an Audible Original is out now that accomplishes just that. For Yellow Face, by David Henry Hwang, an adaptation of his stage play of the same name, truly is the perfect story for this point in time. For this particular story introduces us to an unreliable narrator and playwright also named David Henry Hwang, who finds himself working to defend himself for crossing several lines in the realm of representation. For he makes the mistake of hiring an actor that is white to play an Asian character in one of his plays, after he fought hard to ensure that such an act never took place in another play. Giving rise to quite the conundrum for David, one where he must decide to either come clean about his mistake… or double down and save himself the embarrassment.

Which is a plot that accomplishes so much from a social commentary standpoint. Because this is a hot topic right now, for there are hard questions being asked often in Hollywood and the entertainment world regarding whether or not a white actor should portray someone of a different race. And there are of course people that believe it should be of no concern since such acts have permeated the business long before it was so popular, but there are others who point out how it appropriates culture and keeps BIPOC individuals that can play those parts just fine out of work and out of sight. At a time when the American public is outright saying, they want to be seen on the stage and the screen and want their stories told. All of which brings forth some powerful and poignant commentary on the matter, and no easy answers because David correctly points out that we need more than discourse and decisions to properly solve this problem.

However, there was mention that this story features multiple themes and explorations and those can be found… in the moments in between David’s constant conundrum. For the downtime in the central plot allows for David to ponder deeply upon his own identity, and what he actually stands for, and it also digs deep into the nature of the American Dream and its place in the modern world, through a fascinating vignette revolving around his father, who loves the concept of it so. All of which makes for a very human story that harbors so many concepts and perspectives to ponder upon, including the importance of honesty and self-forgiveness for the many mistakes we will make in life. Which makes this a powerfully complex story, one that is more or less about life and yet… never once becomes overwhelming with its messaging… courtesy of a simple trick.

In that, it’s also a comedy. In fact, the sheer concept of one man trying to cover up a mistake such as this at this time in American history, is that perfect comedic twist… since it borders upon outlandish and realistic, and it also doesn’t hurt… that it is an amazingly well-acted audio drama. One that features Daniel Dae Kim, Jason Biggs, and Wendell Pierce and so many more talents, and well… all of these elements bring forth a perfect adaptation of a perfectly brilliant story. One that holds nothing back in the powerful questions it asks and the powerful challenges it poses to the audience, and it really is incredibly relevant and meaningful. All courtesy of a story that bold and downright brave.

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