Ching Chong Chinaman

If the title makes you feel uncomfortable, you're not alone. The characters in Lauren Yee's new comedy are equally unnerved by the racial overtones when they utter the phrase, derived from a derogatory 19th-century jingle. But although "Ching Chong Chinaman" attempts to shake up common stereotypes, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre's new production rarely goes further than skin deep.

The Wong family is as American as you can get: Father Ed (Ron Nakahara) is training for the company golf game, daughter Desdemona (Jennifer Lim) is nervously awaiting an acceptance from Princeton, and son Upton (Jon Norman Schneider) is calculating how many hours one can physically devote to video games. Ordering takeout Chinese food is an exotic cultural adventure that causes matriarch Grace (Fay Ann Lee) to anxiously exclaim, "Domo arigato, thank you very much!" before hanging up. So when Jinqiang (James Chen) arrives from China wearing a coolie hat and with no English skills to speak of, the Wongs are forced to deal with him—and confront their cultural history.

Yee's characters have a substantial basis in camp, but Pan Asian Rep's production amps up the comedy, often at the expense of the dialogue. While visual cues are inherent to the nature of the play (Jinqiang wants to be on "America's Next Top Dancer"), director May Adrales' relentless reliance on sight gags gets tired over the course of the two-hour run. Chen's surprising dance sequences are a riot the first time around, but even his substantial charm can't sustain the subsequent belabored tango and drawn-out tap routine.

Instead, "Ching Chong Chinaman" shines in its countless bit parts and joking asides. Angela Lin is the star here; billed simply as "the Chinese Woman," Lin appears as a Korean orphan, a Princeton alum, and a sex-hotline operator, among many other roles. The set, designed by Gian Marco Lo Forte, is ingeniously built, with trapdoors and hidden windows that enable Lin's frequent interruptions and cultural commentary.

But despite their comedic value, these disruptions prevent the Wongs from becoming more than just caricatures. Although "China Chong Chinaman" presents common stereotypes—of both Asians and Americans—that beg to be explored, Adrales and the cast never allow us to see the humanity that lies beneath them.


Presented by Pan Asian Repertory Theatre at the West End Theater, 263 W. 86th St., NYC. March 24–April 11. Tue.–Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 3 p.m. (Additional performances Wed., March 31, 3 p.m., and Thu., April 8, 11 a.m.) (212) 352-3101, (866) 811-4111, www.theatermania.com, or www.panasianrep.org.