

The Far Country
by Lloyd Suh
directed by Eric Ting
Linda Gross Theater
November 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023
An Atlantic commissioned play by Guggenheim fellow Lloyd Suh (The Chinese Lady) directed by Obie Award winner Eric Ting (We Are Proud to Present…).
More Info
An intimate epic that follows an unlikely family’s journey from rural Taishan to the wild west of California in the wake of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
I’m grateful to honor an extraordinary book that served as a critical and primary source for my research process on this play: Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910-1940, Lai, Him Mark, Genny Lim, and Judy Yung, eds. © 2014, Reg. No. TX 8-066-082 (University of Washington Press listing).
The book is not just a wide-ranging account of the Exclusion Era and the history of Angel Island Immigration Station, it is also a compilation of the extraordinary poetry found on the walls in the detention center, and an important, remarkable document of a pivotal and under-examined period in Asian American history.
I’m deeply grateful to Genny Lim, not only for her generous permission to include excerpts from her English translations of the Chinese poems written on Angel Island in the text of the play, but even more for the extraordinary and comprehensive work she has done over many years to unearth, illuminate, and share the history and stories of those incarcerated at Angel Island. I’m also deeply sorry for not including this acknowledgement during the first two productions of the play – because without Genny’s work, along with her colleagues Him Mark Lai and Judy Yung, this history would still be completely hidden from the world. Their passion and commitment to sharing the voices and experiences of the poets of Angel Island were not only of critical importance to the play, they are of critical importance to the history of Asian America. I hope you will take a deeper dive into this history through this groundbreaking book, and I can’t thank Genny and her colleagues enough for all they’ve done to give voice to the poets and people of Angel Island. – Lloyd Suh
The Far Country runs 2 hours including one 10 minute intermission.
Please note: This production contains haze/fog and strobe lights.
Reviews

“An artful examination of the emotional price of immigration. Directed with sensitivity & spirit by Eric Ting! The Far Country meditates on ethnicity & identity; an act, loving and sorrowful, of reclamation.”
Alexis Soloski, THE NEW YORK TIMES
★★★★
“Suh succinctly & humorously covers 21 years from Taishan to San Francisco. ”
melissa rose bernardo, time out
“Enlightening, sobering, even at times enraging! Sets the stage alight with dramatic tension, gripped as we find ourselves hoping.” Editor’s Pick!
Kenji fujishima, theatermania
“A graceful & haunting account! There is also warmth and humor in The Far Country, Suh is interested in the resilience of the human spirit.”
elysa Gardner, NY Sun
“An intimate & revealing look at the immigrant experience. The actors deliver the overarching message of triumphing over adversity and bigotry with steadfast endurance.”
Deb miller, DC metro Theater Arts
“Lyrical and thought provoking! Suh’s script is beautiful & Ting’s direction inspired.”
ERin Kahn, Stage Buddy
“Director Eric Ting guides a uniformly excellent cast! Suh’s strength is his ability to mix realism and poetic elements.”
Joe Dziemianowicz, New York Theatre Guide
“Tops anything imagined by Franz Kafka! Jiyoun Chang’s lighting of Clint Ramos’ impressive set imbues moments with breathtaking beauty!”
robert hofler, ThE wrap
Cast & Creative
The Far Country is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award.
Production Photos
Rehearsal Photos
Video by Tim Grady.
Photos by Ahron R. Foster.