Joker

A Filipino gay writer and activist settles into a straight marriage in Hawai'i to keep a promise he's made. The tenuous calm is rocked by the arrival of a former friend of his from the Philippines. Will the life he carefully constructed crush around him? Set during the run-up to marriage equality in Hawai'i, Joker explores love, loss and the power of our promises.
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Joker

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    3 May. 2021
    A powerful look at intimacy and the promises we make as things become more complicated for these characters. Captivating and well done.
  • Nick Malakhow:
    17 Jul. 2020
    An intimate, exquisitely-told story that incorporates beautiful foreshadowing and tension that intrigues without giving too much away too soon. Each character is vividly realized and Liu clearly paints them with loving brushstrokes. Even though there is tension and momentum, we never stop caring for and empathizing with these folks. Liu explores living one's truth and coming to terms with identity in a multi-faceted and nuanced way. The theatricality of the monologue interjections and occasional magic moment is powerful! I'd love to see this live and on its feet, but the humorous, human text is so strong all by itself.
  • David Hansen:
    2 Apr. 2020
    An intimate family drama set against the backdrop of momentous events, Joker is a keen mystery. The playwright does a masterful job creating tension and an inscrutibly frustrating emotional puzzle which when unlocked reveals the many layers to a character who has kept so much pain hidden for so long. Recommended!

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Stella Adler Studio of Acting
    ,
    2016

Production History

  • Workshop
    ,
    National Queer Theatre/IRT Theatre
    ,
    2019
  • Fringe
    ,
    The Kraine Theatre (FringeNYC)
    ,
    2015
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Kumu Kahua Theatre
    ,
    2015
  • University
    ,
    Earle Ernst Lab Theatre
    ,
    2014

Awards

Winner
,
Po'okela Award for Original Script
,
Hawaii State Theatre Council
,
2016
Winner
,
National Partners of the American Theatre Award for Playwriting
,
KCACTF
,
2015