A West Virginia story, a family story, a war story, an immigration story, a Vietnamese story
Cody LeRoy Wilson heritage in one-man show
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Cody LeRoy Wilson, Vietnam-born, Tyler county-raised and a West Virginia University graduate, will put on his one-man show "Did My Grandfather Kill My Grandfather?" at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center on Aug. 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.
This autobiography follows Wilson's family immigration journey from Vietnam to West Virginia after his mother was adopted by an American soldier. According to Wilson, the play climaxes at a nightmare sequence he experienced in high school, in which his adoptive, American grandfather came across his Vietnamese grandfather at war.
"I vividly remember being in the body of my Asian grandfather, and then the body of my white grandfather, and then I woke up realizing that there was a potential, maybe not a high possibility, but a potential, that they were across the field in battle," he said.
Wilson struggled with his racial identity as an Asian American in West Virginia his entire life. Despite his state pride, he consistently questioned where he belonged.
"I have no knowledge of where she came from, who her parents are, what region we might have come from, which is kind of a strange duality to live in, because some kids told me to, 'Go back to where I came from,' and in my head, 'I'm from here. I'm from West Virginia,’" Wilson said.
He hopes the play will serve as a way for audience members to connect to their own heritage and identity struggles.
"I want audiences to walk away from the show with a sense of curiosity as opposed to assumptions," he said. "I want to be an artist that makes work that encourages people to reverse that way of thinking. I think people who see my show can walk away with a greater understanding of what it means to be an American."
Performing the play in his home state gives Wilson satisfaction he cannot describe, and he is excited to showcase the diversity that does exist in the region.
"I as a West Virginian am delighted to not only present this Vietnamese story, but this West Virginia story to highlight how diverse and culturally beautiful families in Appalachia can be," Wilson said. "There were instances when people would say things, but for the most part, West Virginia was a warm, loving place. I think because I grew up in West Virginia, I have a better understanding of what it means to be a person of color in Middle America, and that the majority of people in these areas aren't out to get anybody; they're also just trying to get by."
The play is 65 minutes long, with no intermission and depicts images of war, Wilson said.
Tickets for "Did My Grandfather Kill My Grandfather?" can be bought at purchase.creativeartsandmedia.wvu.edu or at 304-293-SHOW for $20.