Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Minneapolis/St. Paul

FOB
Mu Performing Arts

Also see Arthur's reviews of Love and Information, Calvin Berger, and Gertrude Stein and a Companion


Randy Reyes, Michael Sung-Ho and Meghan Kreidler
FOB is an acronym for "fresh off the boat," referring to newly arrived immigrants to the United States, and usually disparagingly. In David Henry Hwang's drama FOB, it refers specifically to new arrivals from China, and contrasts them to ABC's, or "American-born Chinese." FOB, which earned Hwang an Obie Award, was Hwang's first play, establishing him as an important voice in Asian-American theater.

FOB takes place in in Chinese restaurant in Los Angles. Grace, the daughter of the shop's owner, works as the restaurant's cashier while also attending college. Grace comes across as fully Americanized, and wastes no time opining that the work is boring and requires her to put up with all manner of obnoxious customers. In comes the first customer, a recently arrived Chinese man who speaks little English. Grace's claim that the customers are obnoxious is in fact turned on its head as it is she who appears rude to this gentleman, refusing to answer his questions, and mocking him for being unable to read the menu. At first glance it appears Hwang is setting these two up as contrasting examples of a FOB and an ABC.

However, much to Grace's surprise, her customer draws himself up and reveals himself to be Guan Gong, Chinese god of warriors, writers and prostitutes. In tradition, he is a powerful force, fierce against enemies but equally loyal to his countrymen. Grace at first takes the fellow to be delusional, but as he persists in claiming this identity, she begins to engage him. She claims that he has no place in Chinese Americans' lives, and that younger ABC's don't even know of him. He leaves to find out for himself, but states that he will be back, and will take Grace out for dinner.

While he is gone, Grace invites her cousin Dale to the restaurant on a false pretense. She then, in a reverie, imagines herself as Fa Mulan, a legendary Chinese heroine (known by way of the Disney movie, Mulan) who defied convention by disguising herself as a man and taking her father's place in battle. Dale arrives and immediately reveals his contempt for FOB Chinese. He is an ABC with no mercy for those who cling to traditional ways, even his own parents.

When Guan Gong returns—introduced to Dale as a fellow student called Steve—Dale subjects him to unchecked ridicule. A battle of wills ensues between the two men for Grace's loyalty and affection. Grace becomes the referee between the two. The conflict can be interpreted as taking place within Grace's mind, the push-pull between the old ways and new values. As Mulan, she bridges the divide, fighting for old standards while blazing a new role. Both Dale and Guan Gong/Steve are larger than life in their extreme, unrelenting fix on their positions. Only Grace shows an ability to draw upon the wisdom of both, and ultimately, to change.

The dialogue in FOB is often stilted, as if intended to establish positions and roles, rather than creating real characters. The work of creating characters is left to its actors. Randy Reyes (who doubles as director) succeeds in the daunting task of bringing the duality of his character, the Guan Gong of myth and the painfully human Steve, to life. Reyes demonstrated his ability to forge singularity out of dual personas in Hwang's M. Butterfly at the Guthrie, so it is no surprise that he once again has created a shape-shifting character, both fierce and meek without contradiction.

Meghan Kreidler also gives a strong performance, taking the aloof and grumpy Grace we meet when the curtain rises through a storm that causes her to look both at where she came from and where she is heading. The change in her demeanor and desires is quite believable. Michael Sung-Ho's turn as Dale is harder to take. He is, from the beginning, extremely unpleasant and condescending toward his cousin and belligerent to his sparring partner. Without being able to have any sympathy for Dale, it is hard for the conflict waged between him and Steve to seem like a fair fight.

The production values are very simple. This, and Reyes' tight direction, maintain a focus on the interaction between the three characters on stage. Katherine Horowitz has done a good job of providing a late '70s disco soundtrack that lampoons the way American culture is known around the world.

Mu Performing Arts is offering a take-in box of Chinese noodles that audience members can bring into the theater to enjoy during the show. This is a clever and tasty idea. It underscores the way in which, as the FOB absorbs American culture and gives way to the ABC, American culture absorbs the contributions of its new arrivals.

While the tension within immigrant communities between traditional and westernized culture continues, played out again as with each new wave of nationalities on our shores, FOB feels somewhat dated and pedantic. It is also true that, since the play's arrival in 1980, a growing awareness of multiculturalism has created forces that strive to maintain pride in traditional cultures even as immigrants aspire to attain a share of the American dream. Still, Mu Performing Arts and director Reyes can be commended for bringing back a milestone work that sheds light on an important dynamic in our increasingly multicultural nation.

FOB continues at the Mixed Blood Theatre through February 15, 2015. 1501 S. Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN. Tickets: $22, $10 for students with valid. Add $6.00 for Chinese food "take-in" box to enjoy during the show. For tickets call 651-789-1013 or go to www.muperformingarts.org.

Writer: David Henry Hwang; Director: Randy Reyes; Scenic Designer: Sarah Brandner; Costume Designer: Christine Richardson; Lighting Designer: Søren Olsen; Sound Designer: Katharine Horowitz; Fight Choreographer: Allen Malicsi; Stage Managers: Lisa M. Smith, Jillian Lee Zeman

Cast: Meghan Kreidler (Grace), Randy Reyes (Steve), Michael Sung-Ho (Dale).


Photo: Michal Daniel


- Arthur Dorman


Also see the season schedule for the Minneapolis - St. Paul region