Theatrius
  • Now Playing
  • All Reviews
  • Writers
  • Reflections
  • Millennial Notes
  • Join Us
  • About Us
  • Search Icon

Theatrius

Theater Reviews—San Francisco and Beyond

“King of the Yees”—Worthy of A Crown, at S.F. Playhouse

“King of the Yees”—Worthy of A Crown, at S.F. Playhouse

January 30, 2019 Jordan Freed

Millennial Notes

Lauren Yee, New Wizard of Chinatown

by Jordan Freed

Lauren Yee is not sure Chinatown is worth saving.

Her father Larry, the titular “King of the Yees,” earnestly dedicates himself to the community. Together, they carve out a new legacy for an aging Chinatown, inspired by their love of both tradition and change.

Lauren Yee has written herself into her play, so I will call the playwright Yee, and the character Lauren. Lauren (nimble Krystle Piamonte) is staging her new play at her father’s club, the Yee Fung Toy Family Association. Her two-person play features Actor 1 (multi-talented Jomar Tagatac) as Larry Yee, and Actor 2 (sensational Rinabeth Apostol) as Lauren. But when the “real” Larry Yee (magnificent Francis Jue) bursts in, the rehearsal quickly unravels.

Krystle Piamonte (Lauren Yee). All photos by Jessica Palopoli

Next, Yee launches us on a wild joyride through Chinatown that’s part play-within-a-play and part “Wizard of Oz.” Each scene has me cracking up, from an audience Q&A session to a rapid-fire dance montage—better than any viral YouTube sensation!

Lauren struggles to be worthy of Chinatown. Scenic Designer Bill English gives us a pair of magnificent, red and gold Chinese doors that dominates the stage, representing the barrier between Lauren and her traditions. Her father Larry tells Lauren the doors can be opened by any “true Yee,” a family legacy extending back thousands of years. But Lauren hardly feels connected to the culture of Chinatown, creating a gulf between father and daughter. After all, what is a “true Yee”?

Francis Jue (Larry Yee)

The cast of “King of the Yees” offers a buffet of hilarious and heartfelt performances. As Larry, Francis Jue brings an infectious buoyancy, with a twinkle in his eye that you can see from the back row. Will Dao takes on at least three different roles, most strikingly a Chinese lion dancer plucked from a Chinese New Year parade. Jomar Tagatac and Rinabeth Apostol share a side-splitting lesson on imitating a Chinese accent, making me cringe and then, laugh out loud.

Playwright Yee has taken on the grand task of writing a show that challenges Asian stereotypes, celebrates her father, and reconciles her feelings towards Chinatown. “King of the Yees” succeeds because it directly engages us. When Larry Yee talks about the importance of voting as a community, it isn’t symbolic—he passes out voter registration forms to the audience.

Jomar Tagatac

Rich in meta-theatrics, “King of the Yees” leaves no mystery about the playwright’s intent. As Lauren says, “This is a story, a true story, about my dad, about dying Chinatowns, about how things fall apart, and how to say goodbye.” Like Lauren, character and playwright, we are left with a new understanding of Chinatown’s legacy and a warm spark of hope for its future.

  • 048A0865
  • 048A0703
  • 048A0678
  • 048A0392
  • 048A0107
  • 048A0101
  • 048A0043

“King of the Yees” by Lauren Yee, directed by Joshua Kahan Brody, at San Francisco Playhouse, San Francisco, through Saturday, March 2, 2019. Info: sfplayhouse.org

Cast: Rinabeth Apostol, Jomar Tagatac, Francis Jue, Krystle Piamonte, and Will Dao.


Millennial Notes, Plays
Chinatown, Chinese American, comedy, Family, Identity, Immigrants, love, power, San Francisco

Post navigation

NEXT
“Spending the End of the World on Ok Cupid” Reconnects Us, at Pear Theatre, Mountain View
PREVIOUS
“Border People”—Touching, Timely Portraits of US, at The Marsh, S.F.
Comments are closed.

Menu

  • Now Playing
  • All Reviews
  • Writers
  • Reflections
  • Millennial Notes
  • Join Us
  • About Us

BLM

Black Lives Matter

Subscribe for upcoming reviews!
Loading

Current Shows

  • “Dry Powder” Spotlights Wall Street Power-Brokers—at Left Edge
  • “Pride and Prejudice, The Musical” Enchants with Sass & Satire—at Ross Valley
  • “Clue” Melds Mystery & Comedy into Entertaining Adventure—at SF Playhouse
  • “Donna”: Intimate Interviews Celebrate Trans Triumphs—On Screen
  • “Fannie”: Sixties Spirituals Pave Path to Freedom—at TheatreWorks
  • “’Tasha” Tackles Raw Racism—at 3Girls
  • “Tea Party” Brews Up a Cup of America—at The Strand
  • “A Raisin in the Sun” Explodes with Drama and Power—at 6th Street
  • “Cambodian Rock Band” Deserves Its Standing Ovation—at Berkeley Rep
  • “Cambodian Rock Band” Mixes Nostalgic Hits with Terror—at Berkeley Rep
  • “Fun Home” Seduces with Strong Songs & Sultry Sass—at Berkeley Playhouse
  • “Anything Goes”: It’s Delightful, It’s Delicious, It’s De-lovely—at 42nd Street Moon
  • “SIX, The Musical” Celebrates Women’s Freedom & Individuality—at BroadwaySF
  • “Fun Home” Bursts with Love & Feeling—at Berkeley Playhouse
  • “Dear San Francisco” Wows with Kaleidoscopic Acrobatics—at Club Fugazi

About us:

If you want to see the best plays & performances around the San Francisco Bay or beyond, read our reviews. We promise to give you a true report on the best shows.
Bay Area Critics Circle

Barry David Horwitz, Editor of Theatrius, is a Voting Member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle, SFBATCC. Follow us on: facebook.com

© 2023   All Rights Reserved.