Skip to main content Skip to footer site map
S52E16: Yellow Face | Clip

The Awkward Talkback from Yellow Face

SHARE

DHH (Daniel Dae Kim) brings Marcus G. (Ryan Eggold) to a talkback with Asian American students, where the question of his ethnicity and his portrayal of an Asian character comes up in this satirical play.

TRANSCRIPT

Doing a little thinking.

- Yeah.

I'm so pleased to see you all at tonight's event.

Marcus G. Dalman.

An evening with the creators of “Face Value.” Have you ever thought about taking a stage name?

Like what?

How about just Marcus Gee?

So without any further delay...

I never, uh, Please welcome David Henry Hwang and Marcus Gee.

David, I say this with respect.

I always thought of you as a yellow sellout.

Mmmm.

Mhmmm.

Mmmmm.

Well, I'm sorry you feel that way.

Broadway hit?

Tony Award?

Those are pats on the head Whitey he gives to his pets to make him feel good about himself.

Yes, um, I saw your “M.

Butterfly.” I was almost the only Asian person in the theater.

Tell him, sister.

When the show was over, I could feel everyone looking at me.

That's terrible.

But technically, that's not... And with your new play?

The reviews?

Whoowee!

Those white critics are kicking your ass all the way back to Chinatown.

Well, I wouldn't say they were all... You have finally written something great for the community.

Thank you.

Sticking it to Whitey, and he can't take it.

When did you see our show?

I don't need to see it to know what's going on here.

I've seen your show.

- Wonderful.

It's so much better than the last one.

This time, no one stared at me.

That's just great.

In fact, there was hardly anyone in the theater at all.

I have a question for Marcus.

You're Asian, right?

Better be, or I'm going to kick his ass.

Well, my ancestry is really mixed up, you know.

But... there are some who say that the lost tribe of Israel -- Marcus is mixed race Asian.

That's the correct term, isn't it, Marcus?

Sure.

We all know what yellow face does to our people.

Tell them, sister.

Erasure, imperialism, and the triumph of capitalist hegemony.

Which is why I'm the one who led the “Miss Saigon” protest.

Respects, respect.

Put my career on the line.

To stick it to Whitey.

- Oh.

And then I wrote “Face Value” to...

Excuse me!

I hadn't finished my question!

Marcus, your ancestors, I mean, the Asian side, where did they come from?

Siberia.

Right?

They were Russian Siberian, Asian Jews, werent they?

Okay, sure.

And Siberians are Asians?

Here!

I just happened to be carrying an atlas, see?

Just north of China.

Nowadays we really don't all look alike.

Looks don't matter any longer.

Marcus is like us.

He's an American.

Oh, no.

Marcus, as an actor of Jewish Siberian heritage, have you faced a lot of barriers?

Sure you have.

Tell them.

Well, before this, my career was sort of going nowhere.

I mean, directors just didn't know what to do with me.

Cultural imperialism!

Last November I went on this commercial call, and they had me back five times.

Five times.

And in the end, you know, they told me.

They said I didn't “look right.” That is so racist - I'm going to kick their asses.

Was growing up hard for you?

It was right?

- Actually, it was.

When I was seven my parents moved to this fancy neighborhood because it had good schools.

But that made me like the poor kid in town.

I know what that's like!

So I wrote “Face Value” because -- I tried to fit in.

But the other kids, they all knew the truth about me.

They all looked down on you.

That's right.

And you wanted to kick their asses.

Well, at the time... - Come on man.

Say it!

I wanted to kick their asses.

Doesn't that feel good?

It really does.

God, this is amazing.

You guys don't even know me.

And to welcome me like this into your club.

Community!

Community!

Oh.

Feels like I finally found a home.

We love you, Marcus.

You know, out there in the rest of this country, everyone is on their own fighting to stay afloat.

But you've got each other.

No, we've got each other.

Marcus Gee, you are a role model for us all.

Oh, I wouldn't even be here if I didn't have the good fortune to be cast in a play by David Henry Hwang!