Ballad of Yachiyo
A tale of illicit passion by Guggenheim-winning playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, set in 1919 among the lush cane fields of Hawaii. Inspired by true events in the playwright's family, The Ballad of Yachiyo follows 16-year-old Yachiyo as she reluctantly leaves her impoverished parents to live with sophisticated relatives. Her mother hopes she will learn the Japanese tea ceremony and other refinements that will help attract a wealthy husband. But as Yachiyo acquires civilized graces from her hostess, Okusan, she also struggles with a growing passion for Okusan's handsome and dissolute husband.
An L.A. Theatre Works full cast performance featuring:
June Angela as Yachiyo
Takayo Fischer as Okusan
Dian Kobayashi as Mama
Lane Nishikawa as Hiro Takamura
Sab Shimono as Papa
Greg Watanabe as Willie Higa
Annie Yee as Osugi Chong
Original music by Dan Kuramoto.
Directed by Philip Kan Gotanda. Recorded before a live audience at the DoubleTree Suites, Santa Monica in November of 1996.
