Four Sisters and a Knife: Jeena Yi's Jesa

"In Jesa, the sisters gather for a traditional ancestor-honoring ceremony, navigating their grief and familial tensions while preparing food and engaging in rituals that highlight their cultural heritage."

"The play's strongest sequences resonate with the complexities and specificities of first-generation heartache, showcasing the sisters' emotional struggles and conflicts during the Jesa ceremony."

Jesa features four Korean American sisters who gather for a Jesa, an ancestor-honoring ceremony, at their family home. The play highlights their emotional struggles following the loss of their parents, particularly their mother. Tensions arise as they prepare food, pour soju, and engage in traditional rituals. The narrative captures the complexities of first-generation heartache, showcasing moments of conflict and connection among the sisters. A pivotal scene involves a FaceTime call from Korea, emphasizing their familial ties and individual personalities, ultimately leading to inevitable confrontations during the ceremony.

Read at Vulture