Jesa
The dominant form of American theater since Edward Albee’s "Who’s Afraid of Virigina Woolf?" has been the dysfunctional family drama of which there have been countless such plays. The newest one, Jeena Yi’s debut play "Jesa" presented by Ma Yi Theater Company in residence at The Public Theater, adds a new wrinkle. This time the family is Korean American and the cast is all women, four sisters to be exact who meet to perform their parents’ jesa. Jesa is a Korean ceremony honoring the dead on the anniversary of their passing that includes food, ritual and requesting their blessings. It is this ceremony that brings together the four estranged for the first time in a long time, the first time they are honoring their mother who died a year ago. [more]