| THEATER
a play by
Because of a strange family curse, a Thai-American man must get married before his thirtieth birthday or he is doomed to spontaneously combust. As the day of disaster draws near, he feels pressure from his outrageous parents, his acerbic best friend, his troubled ex-girlfriend, and the teenaged Thai girl who just stepped off a plane. This contemporary comedy explores issues of race, identity, gender, familial obligation, love, and death with humor and heart.
"A romantic comedy with a touch of parable. Highlights a new, fluid comic voice—one that unself-consciously incorporates ethno-cultural information on its Thai, Chinese, and white characters with no discernible explanatory, 'educational' strain. Big Hunk announces the arrival of a playwright with a sure and steady comic style."
"A vehicle that pokes fun at the cultural realities of an Asian (in this case, Thai) family trying to find assimilation in America without compromising entirely the core values and traditions that are geographically left behind. The play also addresses the familiar issues of race, gender, and identity in a modernistic, sometimes hilarious manner."
"Delectably loopy. Big Hunk touches on the gaps between generations and cultures, the fragility of hopes and fears and the difficulties of maintaining one's Old World identity in a land that is almost too new for its own good. There are plenty of inspired one-liners and witty observations about marriage, family, and ethnicity."
"Despite the inherent zaniness of the premise, Gomolvilas's play actually has quite a bit of dramatic heart. One can't help but root for the actors [and] for the characters...in this unconventionally romantic tale."
"Poking fun at Thai-American (or, really, any conservative) culture, Big Hunk rakes the familiar theme of parents' hysteria over an unmarried child and gives it a metaphoric boost. The fictional family curse is a smart bit of invention from L.A.-based playwright Prince Gomolvilas; the breaking of family traditions feels like a violent, life-ending disaster to elders, and can incite anxiety and panic even in the younger generations. A fun, fast-paced look at intergenerational angst."
"The script builds a tangible tension as Winston's impending explosion creeps near, with scenes ending in cliffhangers or loaded rhetorical questions. Even when the plot halts for individual character monologues, the storyline doesn't snag. These monologues give the audience an in-depth look into the characters' psyche, adding layers of nuance and opportunities for empathy."
2 Asian-American females
1995 First draft written
1996 Finalist in the Julie Harris Playwright Award Competition
1996 Second prize in the California Playwrights Competition
1996 Staged reading at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California, directed by Timothy Douglas
1996 Staged reading at The Lark Theatre Company in New York City, directed by Lili Liang
1996 Staged reading at the Mark Taper Forum's Asian Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles, California, directed by Chay Yew
1996 Staged reading by Equinox Theatre Company at the Cable Car Theatre in San Francisco, California, directed by Prince Gomolvilas
1998 World premiere production at East West Players in Los Angeles, California, directed by Chay Yew and featuring Kelly Coffield, Dennis Dun, Kerri Higuchi, Steve Park, Jeanne Sakata, and Eric Steinberg
1998 New York premiere production, presented by Tina Horii in association with Second Generation Productions at The Producer's Club II in New York City, directed by Tina Horii and featuring Barney Cheng, Tom Kouo, Paul Lee, Miho Nikaida, Lisa Walter, and Virginia Wing
1999 East Coast premiere production by Asian Stories In America (ASIA) Theatre at the Clark Street Playhouse in Arlington, Virginia, directed by Stan Kang and featuring Edu. Bernardino, Richard Dorton, Michelle T. Hall, Samantha Kearney, Al Twanmo, and Miyuki Williams
2007 Northwest premiere production by Pork Filled Players at the Northwest Actors Studio in Seattle, WA, directed by Miko Premo and featuring Jose Aboag, Daniel Arreola, Leilani Berinobis, Elizabeth Daruthayan, Kellen Kaiser,and Christian Ver
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