Banana Boys

by Leon Aureus, Terry Woo (Adapted by)

A smart, contemporary, and wickedly funny play about five young Asian-Canadian men, "Bananas" (read: yellow on the outside, white on the inside), wrestling with issues of race, identity, and the death of a friend. Not quite Chinese and not really Canadian, they stumble through stories, situations, incidents, and interactions that are seemingly mundane, but upon closer examination, ultimately explore the nature of identity.

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Nathaniel Voll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leon Aureus has adapted Terry Woo's novel, "Banana Boys," with expert tact and understanding of the theatrical form. Having recently read both "versions" back-to-back, I found Aureus' approach not only remained true to Woo's intention, to the heart of the vast novel, but added to the novel in ways befitting its theatrical setting.

Using surreal and hilarious scenes of war, doctor's offices, racial incident logs and mindshifting into the future, Aureus utilizes the possibilities of the theatrical form to further examine what it means to be an "Asian"-Canadian man, a "Banana Boy." Aureus accomplishes this with seeming ease, deepening the characterizations of Woo's heroes and rooting their personal growth in their relationships with each other and the world around them.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a keenly observed treatment of the issues facing second generation Asian Canadians, adapted from the novel by Terry Woo. The young men face racism, demanding parents, conspicuous consumption and more existential crises as they attempt to be true to the Canadian culture in which they want a place and the cultures of their parents. The play is told in short scenes and, in reading, takes a while to tie together. But the overall effect is quite powerful. This would be dynamite in performance.

[Adela Bezemer-Cleverley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this play for a 1900 (an in-out) course at York called Intercultural Theatre and Performance in Toronto. And it was really confusing. But also REALLY intriguing and fascinating and such. I kind of really want to see a performance of it now, because maybe then it would make a lot more sense. I do know that my favourite characters are Mike and Shel, though.