Dance and the Railroad
by David Henry Hwang

Dance and the Railroad is a play by the Chinese American playwright, David Henry Hwang, that deals with the clash of cultures during the development of the railroad in California at the turn of the twentieth century. There are only two characters in this intimate play. One is trying desperately to assimilate with American culture, while the other is trying to retain the traditions and dignity of his Chinese heritage.

On the North and South walls are images representing each of the characters cultural identities. Each side depicts the same subject matter, that of an expansive mountain top vista, but one is rendered in typical western perspective, while the other employs the "inverse perspective" found in Chinese watercolor paintings.

The central playing area is built on a fulcrum and surrounded by water. As the narrative progresses, and each character is pulled from thier points of view, the center platform tips to one side or the other and begins to take on water, illustrating the precarious balance of cultural assimilation.