Redwood Curtain

by Lanford Wilson

In Lanford Wilsonâ s moving and powerful play an adolescent Eurasian girlâ the child of a union between an American GI and a Vietnamese woman, adopted by a wealthy California couple and obsessive in her search for her fatherâ is drawn to the redwood forests of northern California, where thousands of Vietnam veterans have taken refuge to escape the harsh realities of life in America.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Theatre

72 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

About the author

Lanford Wilson was an American playwright, considered one of the founders of the Off-Off-Broadway theater movement. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1980, was elected in 2001 to the Theater Hall of Fame, and in 2004 was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Reviews

[Andy Caffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it is about the U.S. soldiers who fought in the American war on Vietnam returning home and seeking refuge where I live in Redwood Country. Apparently 3-8,000 of them relocated here, many just took to the woods to live.

A young woman born of a U.S. soldier and a mystical woman in Vietnam found herself adopted by American parents, growing up in the states. Every year she visits her aunt who owns a timber company in Humboldt County recently bought up by a junk bond takeover artist, Charles Hurwitz of Texas (although he isn't mentioned by name, he is by geography).

So the story is also about the real loss of a family-owned timber company, and the clearcutting of our precious Redwood Curtain to pay off debt. And the predicted movement of environmentalists which actually came about because of this takeover and did actually save Headwaters Forest from this takeover scheme.

The aunt is lamenting this great loss, while her niece is seeking her father among these roaming dead-eyed veterans, whom she thinks is hiding out in the forests east of Arcata.

It's a short three-act play. I enjoyed it. It has a surprise ending. You'll probably like it too.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at those children born of US soldiers and Vietnamese mothers, family and search for belonging.

[Brian McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure what this play wants to be? Nostalgic? Mystical? Social conscious-raising?

Seems like a search for your elders is a Wilson theme introduced for me in HOT L BALTIMORE.

I did not see the ending coming. 11th hour revelations.

Some interesting characters, though.


*****

After a Debra Monk podcast, I revisited this play on May 2021. I enjoyed the reread.

[Liz Bernardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing play! Your traditional orphan story, but with so many deeper themes and elements of magic realism. I loved it!

[Eric Shea]

This is the first hand account from a child who grew up without her father, and her journey to find him.

[Hager Moharram · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good play indeed .. I enjoyed the dialogue