But Still Like Air

Kimchee and Chitlins

a play in two acts by ELIZABETH WONG Originally produced at Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago and subsequently produced at West Coast Ensemble in Los Angeles. CHARACTERS One woman, eight-person chorus (three women, five men, multiracial, multiple roles) SUZIE SEETO MARK THOMPSON TARA SULLIVAN A BLACK CHORUS (three actors) THE REVEREND LONNIE CARTER BARBER JAMES "SMOKEMAN" BROWN NURSE RUTH BETTY a television reporter the news director the television anchor an activist a barber a nurse Reprinted by permission of the William Morris Agency, Inc., on behalf of the author. Copyright © 1994 by Elizabeth Wong. All rights reserved. Copyrighted Material 396 ELIZABETH WONG A KOREAN CHORUS (three actors) GROCER KEY CHUN MAK SOOMI MAK, the niece WILLIE MAK, the nephew In addition, actors double in the following: a store owner the store cashier a store worker MATILDA DUVET, a Haitian wo~an, played by SUZIE SEETO HAITIAN MAN, played by BARBER BROWN BLACK MAN WITH EYEPATCH, played by REVEREND CARTER BLACK BOY WITH SCARS, a gangbanger, played by BARBER BROWN MEDIATOR, played by MARK THOMPSON THE JUDGE IN HIS SARTORIAL SPLENDOR, played by MARK THOMPSON POLICEMAN IN RIOT GEAR, played by MARK THOMPSON PACK OF REPORTERS, played by CHORUS KOREAN CHURCH WOMAN, played by SOOMI MAK KOREAN MAN WITH WHITE APRON, played by WILLIE MAK A PAKISTANI NEWS VENDOR, played by GROCER MAK OFFSTAGE VOiCE/STAGE MANAGER, played by WILLIE MAK GENERAL NOTE: All roles of authority must be played by the Caucasian male, MARK THOMPSON. All characters, including MARK and TARA, must be on stage to witness the action at all times. TIME: The Present. PLACE: New York City. PRODUCTION NOTES SET The world of the play must be symbolic and not literal. It must reflect the humor ofthe play, or be humorous in some way. Color choices should be bold. Most importantly, designs must provide a "home" on stage for the Chorus. Multi-layered platforms allow for fluidity ofmotion and quick changes oflocale. Copyrighted Material Kimchee and Chitlins 397 The play can support many interpretations. It may be all white and look like a model for a theatre set or a replica ofa television studio. It might also be a cartoon , drawn with bright "Looney Tune" colors. Literal interpretations are the weakest choices. Brick, mortar, windows, doors, storefronts, sidewalks must be avoided. COSTUMES: Bright "team" colors for each Chorus, or clothing of a symbolic nature. Pastels and greys >nust be avoided. Clothes for Suzie, Mark, and Tara must be professional, crisp, and stylish. PROPS: All props, except for Soomi's sign, must be mimed. Absolutely no trash, trash cans, and no wonga basket. LIGHTS: Must be bright. Comedies don't work well in the dark. SOUND: No underscoring, no musical bridges.No drums. Cartoon sound effects are fine. Any sounds are better made by the Chorus. ACCENTS: There must be distinctions in accent-Haitian from Jamaican, Korean from Japanese and from Chinese. The Chorus must develop various shades of inflection; shouting must be kept at a minimum. ACT I AT RISE: SUZIE SEETO looks longingly at the anchor chair. VOICE: [Offstage, heavily miked.] Two minutes to air. Two minutes. [A CHORUS, composed of the BLACK CHORUS and the KOREAN CHORUS , appear behind her.] SUZIE SEETO:The first time I ever saw an African American, it was no big deal. KOREAN CHORUS: Ha! She was petrified. BLACK CHORUS: She was calm. She was nonplussed. She was smoooooth as silk. SUZIE SEETO: [To BLACK CHORUS.] Thank you. [To audience.] I was five. Maybe I was six. CHORUS: [ALL.] You were eight. SUZIE SEETO: I was objective. KOREAN CHORUS: You cried like a baby. Waaaaaaa! SUZIE SEETO: [To KOREAN CHORUS.] Do you mind? Copyrighted Material 398 ELIZABETH WONG BLACK CHORUS: She smiled. KOREAN CHORUS: She was scared. SUZIE SEETO: I was not. BLACK CHORUS: She was friendly. KOREAN CHORUS: She rolled up that car window, lickety split! Practically snipped off the man's nose. SUZIE SEETO: I said, "Touch your hair, mister?" It was sooooo soft. BLACK CHORUS: Then, the colored man said .. KOREAN CHORUS: "Here, you go, IiI' darlin'. Go on, take it. Wants some Pez?" SUZIE SEETO: [As a child.) Oooooh, it's Donald Duck! I've got Mickey, and Minnie, and Popeye, but not Donald Duck." [As herself] Naturally, I took it. BLACK CHORUS: "Thank you very much for the Pez," you said. You were very polite. SUZIE SEETO: Yes, I was. KOREAN CHORUS: Not! She...