Yellow Fever (play)

Yellow Fever is a play by R. A. Shiomi, which takes place on Powell Street in Japantown, Vancouver, a gathering place for the local Japanese-Canadian culture. Set in the 1970s, the Sam Spade-like main character, Sam Shikaze, must work to unravel the mysteries that surround him.[2] First produced by the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre in 1982, it received positive reviews[2] and had a successful run off-Broadway.

Yellow Fever
Written byR. A. Shiomi
CharactersSam Shikaze
Date premiered1 December 1982[1]
Place premieredPan Asian Repertory
New York, New York[1]
Original languageEnglish
SubjectJapanese Canadian Culture
GenreComedy, Mystery, Parody
SettingPowell Street in Vancouver, CAN in the early 1970s

Plot summary

Sam Shikaze, a smooth private eye, narrates his own story about what happened when he was hired to find the missing Cherry Blossom Queen. He is soon trapped in a web of racism and political intrigue that seems to lead back to the Hong Kong tongs. Chuck Chan is a lawyer who tried to help solve the case, while Nancy Wing is a beautiful reporter who is searching for a story. Captain Kadota, an old friend of Sam's, offers his aid as a member of the police force, although Sam and he do not see eye-to-eye on politics.

Characters and actors in the premier production
[1]
  • Sam Shikaze (Donald Li)
  • Rosie (Carol Honda)
  • Goldberg (James Jenner)
  • Chuck Chan (Henry Yuk)
  • Nancy Wing (Freda Foh Shen)
  • Sergeant Mackenzie (Jeffrey Spolan)
  • Capt. Kenji Kadota (Ernest Abuba)
  • Superintendent Jameson (James Jenner)

Presented by the Pan Asian Repertory Theater:

  • Raul Aranasm, stage director
  • Tisa Chang, artistic director
  • Susan Socolowski, administrative director

Awards and honors
  • 1982: Bay Area Theater Circle Critics Award
  • 1982: "Bernie" for new play from the San Francisco Chronicle
  • 1983: Obie Award to Ernest Abuba for performance[3]

References
  1. Gussow, Mel. "Yellow fever." The New York Times 132 (2 December 1982): 24(N) pC21(L). General Reference Center Gold. Gale.
  2. Oliver, Edith. "Rosie's cafe." The New Yorker 63.n36 (26 October 1987): 130(1). General Reference Center Gold. Gale.
  3. "Obie Awards Presented". The New York Times, 24 May 1983
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