The Guthrie Theater presents a Mu Performing Arts production of
Charles Francis Chan Jr.'s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery
by Lloyd Suh
directed by Randy Reyes
Dowling Studio
Back by popular demand
About the show
1967: a new political identity called Asian American emerges and a young literary hippie named Frank essays an inscrutable Chinese detective. A harmless sing-song orientalist minstrel show that ends in a grotesque carnival of murder!
At once both comedic and political, Lloyd Suh’s play within a play delves into the history and politics of yellowface with a keen eye, dark humor and sharp wit. The New York Times called it, “a metatheatrical polemic about the way Asian Americans have been characterized and caricatured in popular culture.”
Charles Francis Chan Jr.’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery was featured in Mu Performing Arts’ 2016 New Eyes Festival at The Playwrights Center. Mu celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season this year.
Photos
Randy Reyes (Monkey) and Eric Sharp (Frank Chan/Hastings). Photo by Rich Ryan.
Randy Reyes (Monkey), Eric Sharp (Frank Chan/Hastings) and Hope Nordquist (Kathy/Linda). Photo by Rich Ryan.
Hope Nordquist (Kathy/Linda), Eric Sharp (Frank Chan/Hastings) and Song Kim (Charles Sr./Alfred). Photo by Rich Ryan.
Song Kim (Charles Sr./Alfred), Eric Sharp (Frank Chan/Hastings) and Hope Nordquist (Kathy/Linda). Photo by Rich Ryan.
Eric Sharp (Frank Chan/Hastings), Song Kim (Charles Sr./Alfred), Hope Nordquist (Kathy/Linda) and Randy Reyes (Monkey). Photo by Rich Ryan.
Luverne Seifert (Sergeant/Charlie), Song Kim (Charles Sr./Alfred) and Eric Sharp (Frank Chan/Hastings). Photo by Rich Ryan.
In the news
Feature Story
'Play at Guthrie confronts ghost of Charlie Chan while battling Asian stereotypes'
Read the Star Tribune feature on Mu Performing Arts' production of Charles Francis Chan Jr.’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery.
Artists
Cast
| Suzy / Eleanor | Stephanie Bertumen |
| Charles Sr. / Alfred |
Song Kim |
| Kathy / Linda |
Hope Nordquist |
| Monkey |
Randy Reyes* |
| Sergeant / Charlie |
Luverne Seifert* |
| Frank Chan / Hastings | Eric Sharp* |
Creative
| Randy Reyes* | Director |
| Rich Remedios | Assistant Director |
| Lyndsey R. Harter* | Stage Manager |
| Sarah Michelle Schweitzer | Assistant Stage Manager |
| JP Mullican | Technical Director |
| Sarah Brandner | Scenic Designer |
| Angelina Vyushkova | Lighting Designer |
| Abbee Warmboe | Properties Designer |
| Samatha Fromm Haddow | Costume Designer |
| Matthew Vichlach | Sound Designer |
| Kathy Maxwell | Projection Designer |
| Eliza Rasheed | Language Coach |
| Allen Malicsi | Fight Choreographer |
*Denotes members of Actors' Equity Association
About Mu Performing Arts
Mu Performing Arts produces great performances born of arts, equity, and justice from the heart of the Asian American experience. Mu celebrates and empowers Asian Americans through theater and taiko.
Mu Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges its 2016-2017 Season funders: 3M Foundation, Ecolab Foundation, Elmer L. & Eleanor J. Andersen Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Marbrook Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, National Endowment for the Arts, St. Paul Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Target
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Charles Francis Chan Jr.'s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery
Dowling Studio