The Theatre of David Henry Hwang

Description

Since the premiere of his play FOB in 1979, the Chinese American playwright David Henry Hwang has made a significant impact in the U. S. and beyond. The Theatre of David Henry Hwang provides an in-depth study of his plays and other works in theatre. Beginning with his "Trilogy of Chinese America", Esther Kim Lee traces all major phases of his playwriting career. Utilizing historical and dramaturgical analysis, she argues that Hwang has developed a unique style of meta-theatricality and irony in writing plays that are both politically charged and commercially viable. The book also features three essays written by scholars of Asian American theatre and a comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources on his oeuvre. This comprehensive study of Hwang's work follows his career both chronologically and thematically. The first chapter analyzes Hwang's early plays, "Trilogy of Chinese America," in which he explores issues of identity and cultural assimilation particular to Chinese Americans. Chapter two looks at four plays characterised as "Beyond Chinese America," which examines Hwang's less known plays. Chapter three focuses on M. Butterfly, which received the Tony Award for Best Play in 1988. In chapter four, Lee explores Hwang's development as a playwright during the decade of the 1990s with a focus on identity politics and multiculturalism. Chapter five examines Hwang's playwriting style in depth with a discussion of Hwang's more recent plays such as Yellow Face and Chinglish. The sixth chapter features three essays written by leading scholars in Asian American theatre: Josephine Lee on Flower Drum Song, Dan Bacalzo on Golden Child, and Daphne Lei on Chinglish. The final section provides a comprehensive compilation of sources: a chronology, a bibliography of Hwang's works, reviews and critical sources.

Esther Kim Lee is Associate Professor and Associate Director of Theatre in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, USA.

Scrupulously researched ... Extremely useful and informative ... Lee's study is especially helpful in placing Hwang's work within American cultural history ... Throughout, she manages to convey concepts such as magic realism, intersectionality, the fourth wall, formalism, and performance theory in language that brings even nonspecialist readers into a sophisticated conversation about Hwang's plays. I would highly recommend it for all readers wishing to take their understanding of David Henry Hwang beyond the butterfly. * Comparative Drama * Lee's exploration of the dominant form and style of Hwang's plays is indeed the most valuable contribution of this volume ... Esther Kim Lee's The Theatre of David Henry Hwang proves how far Asian-American theatre has come, and this volume will be essential reading for theatre practitioners and students and scholars in Asian-American and Asian-Pacific studies. * Modern Drama * An insightful book for students and teachers of Asian American theatre alike, this documentary volume felicitously reevaluates Hwang's oeuvre beyond the usual syllabus placeholder M. Butterfly ... A thoughtfully researched compilation of writings on Hwang's works, this volume features an archive of primary and secondary resources, including a comprehensive bibliography and a chronology of production dates, making it an ideal companion for any collegiate scholar ... This volume will serve as invaluable groundwork for those attempting to investigate further Hwang's treatment of diasporic citizenship ... Treating her readers to clear prose and succinct analysis, Lee offers a valuable addition to the classroom engaging in American drama, Asian American theatre, race and ethnicity studies, and performance studies. * Theatre Survey *