FOB is a 1980 Obie Award-winning play by American playwright David Henry Hwang. His first play, it depicts the contrasts and conflicts between established Asian Americans and "fresh off the boat" (FOB) newcomer immigrants.
| FOB | |
|---|---|
 Revival by Asian American Theater Company | |
| Written by | David Henry Hwang |
| Characters | Dale Grace Steve |
| Date premiered | June 8, 1980 |
| Place premiered | Joseph Papp Public Theater New York City |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | East/West cultural stereotypes |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | Los Angeles; early eighties |
Production history
editThe play premiered at the Stanford Asian American Theatre Project in 1979 under the direction of the author and was further developed at the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in July 1979.[1]
It received its professional debut on June 8, 1980 Off-Broadway at the Joseph Papp Public Theater, closing on July 13, 1980.[2] It was directed by Mako, with John Lone and Tzi Ma in the cast. According to William C. Boles (professor of English at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida), "for a first-time play premiering off-Broadway, FOB received fairly complimentary notices."[1][3] Joseph Papp supported Hwang's work, producing his first four plays.[1]
The play was revived Off-Broadway at the Pan Asian Repertory Theater at Playhouse 46 in May 1990, directed by Hwang.[4] The play was produced by the Asian American Theater Company, San Francisco, California at the Magic Theatre, with direction by Mitzie Abe from March 24 to April 10, 2005.[5]
It is published as part of Trying to Find Chinatown: The Selected Plays by Theatre Communications Group and also in an acting edition published by Dramatists Play Service.
References
edit- ^ a b c Boles, William C. Understanding David Henry Hwang, Chapter 2, Univ of South Carolina Press, 2013, ISBN 1611172888
- ^ " 'FOB' Listing" Archived 2014-08-12 at the Wayback Machine lortel.org
- ^ "'FOB'; Comedy by David Henry Hwang. Directed by Mako" Christian Science Monitor, June 12, 1980
- ^ Gussow, Mel. "Review/Theater. Culture Shock in Hwang's 'F.O.B.'" New York Times, May 20, 1990
- ^ "2005 Production" Asian American Theater Company
