The Book of Mountains and Seas by Yilong Liu

Two years after losing his son, a California dad teams up with his son's last boyfriend in New York on an impossible mission to visit all the restaurants reviewed on his son's Yelp page. When the son passed away, Yelp was the only thing left on his phone. What ensues is an adventure filled with clashing cultures, unlikely friendships, and the review of a lifetime.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

The Book of Mountains and Seas

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    3 May. 2021
    “ A powerful and moving look at working through grief and coming to grips with loss through unlikely friendship. Well done. ”
  • Chandler Hubbard:
    17 Oct. 2020
    “ A story about what stories we tell, who we tell them to, what we censor and what we reveal. A delicate and jarring exploration of grief. ”
  • Shaun Leisher:
    4 Mar. 2020
    “ I don't many playwrights that write about the complicated relationships between fathers and sons as well as Yilong Liu. This play at times feels like your typical "opposites attract" buddy comedy but it's also really diving into some deep waters pertaining to identity, heritage and the sacrifices we make for family. The use of technology and social media in this play is pure genius and heartbreaking. Can't wait to see this produced. ”
View all 12 recommendations

Character Information

  • Archie
    20s,
    Asian
    ,
    Male
    Chinese, 20s, kind of dead, lives in a digital world; the kind of person everybody would remember talking to after a party but no one would actually know his name
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Raymond
    50s, 60s,
    Asian
    ,
    Male
    college professor in California, Chinese, 50s, Archie’s father; the kind of dad who would watch at least two episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race before a party so he could talk to his son's gay friends
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Andrew
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    photographer in New York, American, any ethnicity, late 20s / early 30s, Archie’s old boyfriend; in a party he's most likely seen in a corner talking to the house cat
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    DVRF Playwrights Roundtable
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    CAATA in partnership with Victory Gardens Theater
    ,
    2018
  • Residency
    ,
    SPACE on Ryder Farm
    ,
    2018
  • Residency
    ,
    WildWind Performance Lab/Kennedy Center
    ,
    2018
  • Workshop
    ,
    East West Players
    ,
    2017

Awards

Winner
,
Paul Stephen Lim Playwriting Award
,
Kennedy Center
,
2018
Finalist
,
The New Harmony Project
,
2018
Semi-Finalist
,
Bay Area Playwrights Festival
,
2018
Semi-Finalist
,
O'Neill Playwrights Conference
,
2018