Poor Yella
Rednecks
Manhattan Theatre Club
New York City Center Stage
I
November 24, 2023
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club
The Manhattan Theatre Club production of Qui Nguyen’s Poor Yella Rednecks is outstanding. Mr. Nguyen tells the story of his mother and father, and his growing up in a small town in Arkansas. It is funny and touching, rough and sweet. Mr. Nguyen’s storytelling style is unique. He tells this personal story of struggle and hardship in a bold and colorful manner. His rhythms and humor are fully engaging, pulling the audience into the deeper emotion of the story.
Maureen Sebastian, Samantha Quan, Little Man,
& Jon Norman Schneider
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club
The playwright (played by
Jon Norman Schneider) enters the stage and tells the audience he is getting
ready to interview his mother. He is
going to write a play about when she met his father. His mother, Tong (played by Maureen
Sebastian) lays down the rules for the interview and what she expects from his
play. She transforms into a young woman,
a refugee from Vietnam in the 1981. She
meets and falls in love with Quang (played by Ben Levin), who has a wife and
two children in Vietnam. He was a
helicopter pilot during the war. His wife
thinks he is dead. He and Tong decide to
get married. They live in El Dorado, Arkansas
with Tong’s mother, Huong (played by Samantha Quan), who helps raise their son,
Little Man (a puppet, manipulated and voiced by Jon Norman Schneider). When Quang receives a letter from his wife in
Vietnam, the guilt from abandoning his two children rises to the surface. He sends them money without telling Tong,
which breaks her trust. This is only the
beginning of their many ups and downs, including the fact that Little Man is
having trouble speaking English and is bullied at school.
Maureen Sebastian & Ben Levin
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club
The cast is superb. Maureen Sebastian and Ben Levin have great chemistry
and create a genuine bond as Tong and Quang.
Samantha Quan is full of energy as Huong. She not only delivers the laughs, but also renders
a truthful and touching scene in Act II with her grandson, Little Man. Jon Norman Schneider’s grounded presence
keeps the whole story connected. There
are strong performances by Jon Hoche and Paco Tolson, who both play numerous
roles.
Mr. Nguyen tells a lot of the story through rap lyrics. They enhance the plot and heighten emotional impact. Director May Adrales has done a brilliant job bringing this play to the stage. Scenic design by Tim Mackabee is bright and colorful. It is full of surprises, as each piece turns around to reveal unexpected settings. Choreography by William Carlos Angulo is fun and energetic. Puppet design by David Valentine is wonderous and charming.
Poor Yella Rednecks is playing at the New York City Center Stage I through December 3. Don’t miss it!
Domenick Danza
