Frank Chin Critical Essay | Clive Barnes

Clive Barnes

SOURCE: "Culture Study," in The New York Times, 3 June 1974, p. 39.

In the following mixed review of the New York production of The Year of the Dragon, Barnes finds the play's "insights into the Chinese community" "absolutely fascinating" but also judges it lacking in energy.

We have a great deal of theater in black and white but not too much in yellow. The American Place Theater, and its director, Wynn Handman, have been encouraging the Chinese-American writer Frank Chin. Last season Mr. Chin gave us The Chickencoop Chinaman, and this season the American Place Theater is rounding off its subscription series with his latest play. The Year of the Dragon, which officially opened Saturday night.

As in his earlier play, Mr. Chin is concerned primarily with the American Chinese in American society. The position of the Asian in America is very important and interesting. The black, much larger,...
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