Our group consisted of Erica Loo, Daniel Seo and Chloe Chai. We initially chose this performance because of the director and playwright Young Jean Lee. We were trying to focus our choices on a theme of Asian American artists and how they were being represented in New York City’s artistic scene. When we continued to research more about Young Jean Lee we found that she was making a huge impact as a playwright because of her choice of issues that she tackles within her performances. Death, racism, and privilege are a few of those issues which Young Jean Lee brings to light in a variety of ways. Young Jean Lee doesn’t just stick to playwrights but exhibits the different issues through songs as well as dance. She has created her own space called Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company where she is able to direct, create, and perform her pieces. She is a dynamic writer that really dives out of her own comfort zone in order to make the audience jump out of theirs.

As the other groups have mentioned the story line and the interactions between the brothers starts off very light-heartedly, but the tension slowly began to build as it progressed. The climax was short and had an awkward atmosphere that was amplified because the play abruptly ended after Ed, the dad, had asked Matt to move out. This ending was really unsatisfying but it did have a huge effect on the audience. After the show we didn’t know how to respond to the ending or even the entirety of the show. We were all still trying to wrap our minds around what had just occurred because the ending really didn’t provide us with answers. After we silently walked out of the Public Theater and began walking towards the train station, we finally started to discuss our thoughts. We were all so confused and avoided answering what we thought about the play. But our confusion made us dig deeper into the play. We started analyzing the music, the actions of each brother, the jobs they had, the choices they made and the words they said. As we continued to talk about our individual experiences watching the play, we realized that we had learned about what it was like to be a straight white male. We were sympathizing with the characters, and were able to see a glimpse if not the entirety of the message. We each felt differently about the play and empathized with a different character, but all agreed that this play had a huge impact on the way we now see privilege.

— Erica, Daniel, Chloe

We highly recommend watching this play, but sadly this production has come to the end of its run. But The New York Times has written a review on this production which you can read here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/theater/straight-white-men-opens-at-the-public-theater.html?_r=0

Not only was this play reviewed by The New York Times but also chosen as one of New York Time’s Top 10 Best Theater of 2014, which you can read about here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/theater/charles-isherwoods-best-theater-of-2014-father-comes-home-from-the-wars-and-more.html?ref=theater&_r=1