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Chinese American Filmmaker Peter Wang.

Film maker Peter Wang (it's spelled "wang," but it's pronounced "Wong"). Wang wrote, produced, directed, and acts in his new movie, "The Laser Man." It's a suspense-comedy about a Chinese-American physicist who discovers his laser research is being used for evil purposes. Much the same thing happened to Wang himself. He holds a PhD. in laser technology but left the field after deciding he could no longer use his skills to help create new weapons systems. After a stint teaching, Wang migrated into acting and film. Wang played the crazy short-order cook in "Chan is Missing," and his first feature, "A Great Wall," was a huge critical success.

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Other segments from the episode on February 20, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, February 20, 1990: Interview with Robert Brustein; Commentary on 2 tone music; Interview with Peter Wang; Review of Peggy Noonan's book "What I Saw at the Revolution."
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22:38

Theater Legend Robert Brustein.

Theatre critic, director, and educator Robert Brustein (pronounced "steen," not "stein"). Brustein is a venerable voice in the American theatre...he's the founder and Artistic Director of the American Repertory Company, director of the Harvard Drama Center (he held a similar position at Yale for 13 years), drama critic for the New Republic for more than 30 years and the author of seven books on the theatre.

Interview
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07:28

When Punk and Jamaican Music Met.

Rock historian Ed Ward traces the history of 2 Tone, a musical movement that started in industrial England in the late 70's. It was started by groups like The Specials, the Selecter, the Beat, and Madness, playing ska, a form of pre-reggae Jamaican music.

Commentary
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A Fun, but Disorienting Memoir.

Book critic John Leonard reviews presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan's book "What I Saw At the Revolution" about her experiences writing speeches for Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Some of their most memorable lines, like "Read my lips" and "A thousand points of light" were written by Noonan. (Published by Random House).

Review

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Gish Jen's 'The Love Wife'

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews The Love Wife by Gish Jen. The novel tells the story of Carnegie Wong, a second-generation Chinese American and his complicated family life.

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Chinese-American Playwright David Henry Hwang.

Playwright David Henry Hwang (pronounced "Wong"). He received numerous awards for his Broadway debut "M. Butterfly." His newest production "Golden Child" about the struggle between tradition and change in a family in 1918 China, opens on Broadway in April. It received a 1997 Obie Award. (Interview by Babara Bogaev)

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