31 Asian American Plays in 31 Days
#14 PAPER ANGELS by Genny Lim
PAPER ANGELS offers an intimate portrait of the immigrant experience, revealing the universal desires and haunting realities of those coming to America. All performances will be followed by brief post-play discussions to connect the events explored in the play from 1915 with those happening today in 2015.
The play’s characters are a cross-representation of the approximately 175,000 Chinese immigrants who entered the U.S. between 1910 and 1940 through Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. From 1882 to 1943, the Chinese were prohibited from immigrating to America due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, giving the Chinese the dubious distinction of being the only ethnic group to have specifically been banned from coming to America.
This is an enduring play, that embodies eternal truths, and is worthy of periodic revivals, not just by Asian American theatres. That it is especially relevant today, with this administration, means it needs to be seen by everyone more than ever.
1980, Asian American Theater Company, directed by Amy Hill, Bernadette Cha, Lynette Chun, Dennis Dun, Art Lai, Damon Lee, Wood Moy, Kitty Tsui and Victor Wong.
Photo taken from the New York Federal Theatre production.
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