Ballad of Yachiyo

Ballad of Yachiyo

by Philip Kan Gotanda

Narrated by June Angela, Full Cast

Unabridged — 1 hours, 28 minutes

Ballad of Yachiyo

Ballad of Yachiyo

by Philip Kan Gotanda

Narrated by June Angela, Full Cast

Unabridged — 1 hours, 28 minutes

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Overview

The Ballad of Yachiyo is a tale of illicit passion by Guggenheim-winning playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, set in 1919 among the lush cane fields of Hawaii. Inspired by true events in the playwright's family, The Ballad of Yachiyo follows 16-year-old Yachiyo as she reluctantly leaves her impoverished parents to live with sophisticated relatives. Her mother hopes she will learn the Japanese tea ceremony and other refinements that will help attract a wealthy husband. But as Yachiyo acquires civilized graces from her hostess, Okusan, she also struggles with a growing passion for Okusan's handsome, dissolute husband. The Ballad of Yachiyo is a gripping story of poetic imagery by one of America's leading contemporary playwrights.

An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring June Angela, Takayo Fischer, Dian Kobayashi, Lane Nishikawa, Sab Shimono, Greg Watanabe and Annie Yee.

Editorial Reviews

Variety

Gotanda's writing is superb...a great deal of fine craftsmanship on display here, and much to enjoy.

San Francisco Examiner

...one of the country's most consistently intriguing playwrights...

Oakland Tribune

As he has in past plays, Gotanda defies expectations...

Library Journal

Set amid the sugar cane fields of 1919 Hawaii, Guggenheim-winning playwright Gotanda's (www.philipkangotanda.com) 1995 play centers on 16-year-old Yachiyo, whose poor parents hope she will attract a well-to-do husband. Instead, she finds herself in an affair with a married potter who cares more for his art than for her. Gotanda perfectly captures the time and place of his setting and the limited prospects facing young women such as Yachiyo. Composed of short scenes, his play has a cinematic quality, recalling particularly the films of Kenji Mizoguchi. This L.A. Theatre Works production is alternately rousing and grim, with music and sound effects (e.g., birds, waves) supporting the story. June Angela, as the title character, and Lane Nishikawa, as her lover, are the standouts in the seven-person cast. For those interested in ethnic dramas and Hawaiian and Japanese American history.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr. Lib.

Product Details

BN ID: 2940172057823
Publisher: L.A. Theatre Works
Publication date: 12/07/2009
Edition description: Unabridged
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