Note: I repeat I am terrible at organizing thoughts. We all know this. I also apologize for the briefness in this review I am doing it from mostly memory and I didn't take great notes. I was more focused on watching the show as I have never seen it before.
"The book of Allegiance.... was a little much at times and while it had some great emotional moments the actors failed to rise to the level of intensity required."
There isn't really an interesting back story to me seeing this I was bored and wanted to get out of the house. Seeing
Allegiance was quite different from seeing
Miss Saigon in theatres. While Allegiance didn't have those terrible documentary videos to suck you out of the moment
Allegiance didn't have the same power and intensity that
Miss Saigon had while on the big screen.
Allegiance is based off a true story about how after the bombing of Pearl Harbor thousands of Japanese-Americans were sent to internment camps where they lived until the end of the war. The story was a beautiful one and the score, composed and written by
Jay Kuo, was very pretty, but it was rather forgettable and the songs could have been more emotional and heart gripping. The book of
Allegiance written by
Marc Acito,
Jay Kuo and
Lorenzo Thione was a little much at times and while it had some great emotional moments the actors failed to rise to the level of intensity required. The comedy in the book was very good and was at the appropriate moments. The pace of Act 1 felt rather slow while Act 2 felt like mach 5 speed. It was rather confusing at the beginning of Act 2 because you knew time past, but you weren't sure just how much time had passed. The direction by
Stafford Arima was rather choppy and very overdone at times. I felt that Arima Broadwayfied this story. The actors either went over the top on little moments or were barely simmering on boiling points. The choreography by
Andrew
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Katie Rose Clarke, Lea Salogna, George Takei,
Telly Leung and Michael K. Lee |
Palermo was beautiful, but at times unnecessary and not needed at times. It actually would pull you out of the moment. The design of
Allegiance was very beautiful from the sets designed by
Donyale Werle while very stunning they felt a bit much at times, but still were very beautiful. The lighting by
Howell Binkley was stunning and set the mood perfectly and complimented the sets. The costumes by
Alejo Vietti were also very well done. Anyway let's get onto the specific actors. The only character in the show that was a real person is
Mike Masaoka portrayed by
Greg Watanabe while a skilled actor his portrayal was nothing special. Next we have
Katie Rose Clarke who gave the surprise performance of the night as Hannah Campbell, the army nurse who falls in love with Sam Kimura. Clarke has such a beautiful voice and her portrayal of Hannah was excellent. The way she portrayed her love for Sam and trying to hide it. As well as her longing to help the poor Japanese-Americans even though she knows what could happen to her. Also her chemistry with the entire cast is absolutely amazing. Especially the bond between her and
Telly Leung as Sam Kimura. Their very first duet "
I Oughta Go" was absolutely hilarious from the comedic timing to how well their voices blend together. Hannah is the most well written role in this show in my opinion. Clarke plays this role to perfection and her voice is just absolutely gorgeous. Clarke was the clear knockout performance of the night in this show. Next we have the role of Tatsuo Kimura, the father of Sam and Kei, portrayed by
Christopheren Nomura who did not have the vocal strength to fill this role. Nomura was a great actor and has a great voice, but he could have been a lot more powerful as the controlling, stubborn father. I think he could have raised the intensity up a notch and then he would have commanded the stage. Other then that Nomura was a wonderful actor with a very nice voice. Next we have the foil to Sam Kimura's character which is the role of Frankie Suzuki portrayed by the crazy talented
Michael K. Lee whose portrayal of his character was on the same
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| Telly Leung and Katie Rose Clarke |
level as
Katie Rose Clarke. Lee knew the right moments to be funny and when to be dramatic. His rendition of the song "
Paradise" is quite possibly the best song in the show. The song showed off all of his talent and his well placed comedic timing. Next we have the role of Sam Kimura in the 1940's portrayed by
Telly Leung who just like
Greg Watanabe is a skilled actor, but his portrayal of the role was nothing special. His chemistry with
Lea Salonga and
Katie Rose Clarke is crazy good. He has an excellent voice, but when the time came for intensity he fell short. I felt he could have raised the stakes higher. While his comedic timing was great his dramatic timing (Is that even a thing?) lacked. We then have the role of Sam's older sister portrayed by
Lea Salonga who was rather disappointing throughout the entire show. She had no intensity or vocal power that was required. Her rendition of "
Higher" while beautiful lacked something. I also think the song itself could have been better written. I think Salonga's emotional intensity could have been notched up several more heights. Specifically when ****SPOILER**** When Hannah gets shot. ****END SPOILER**** She also could have been more intense during "
How Can You Go?" both her and
Telly Leung could have been much more intense and in each other's faces. Last, but most certainly not least we have the man who is responsible for bringing this whole project together
George Takei who portrayed the duo role of Sam Kimura (Present Day) and Ojii-San (1940s). Takei is a truly amazing actor and human being for having not only lived through this difficult time, but who also was willing to go back and relive that experience
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| Michael K. Lee and Female Ensemble |
eight shows a week. In the opening scene Takei portrays an older Sam Kimura who is getting ready for a Pearl Harbor rememberance ceremony. During this opening scene Takei seemed stiff and frigid and I don't mean as a creative decision. It was almost as if he had stage fright. When Takei became Ojii-San you could see he was much more comfortable because the character was closer to his personality. The only part that was wonky with Takei as Ojii-San was when ****SPOILER**** Ojii-San died because it was obvious he had a heart attack, but then he acted as if the pain went away and he was fine he then smiled and their was this weird death rattle type sound before the lights went out, ****END SPOILER**** Anyway the ending of the show was very beautiful and heartfelt, but it did feel a little weird. I don't know why it just did. Overall
Allegiance is a beautiful show and it has lots of potential. I just hope the writers don't give up on it and maybe take it on a US Tour because I would see this show again if the option was available.
"Gaman. Dignity, pride as we stand side by side. Even when all hope seems gone. Gaman. Gaman. Gaman..."
