The reviews for Allegiance are in, and though the ambitious mission of the new musical is universally admired, the execution is, unfortunately, not. The sweeping tale is inspired by the memories of George Takei (the ever-loved Star Trek idol) and lends personal perspective to the shameful period of Japanese-American internment in World War II. On paper, it’s intriguing, especially with Takei himself and Tony-winner Lea Salonga topping the cast list. In reality, though, the musical suffers from poor conception, unimaginative direction and design, and an overwhelming earnestness. The musical is certainly unique and full of heart, but when it comes to storytelling on Broadway, that’s just sometimes not enough.
NEW YORK TIMES REVIEW OF ALLEGIANCE
“Allegiance,” a new musical about the internment of Japanese-Americans in camps during World War II, could be said to suffer from a problem of divided loyalties, and I’m not referring to its characters. The show wants to illuminate a dark passage in American history with complexity and honesty, but the first…
DEADLINE REVIEW OF ALLEGIANCE
George Takei, who would grow up to play Lt. Hikaru Sulu on “Star Trek,” was five years old in 1942 when his family and some 120,000 other Japanese-Americans living on the West Coast were forcibly relocated to internment camps in California and more distant places. His memory of those years of humiliation…
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER REVIEW OF ALLEGIANCE
There’s a tremendously affecting scene at the end of “Allegiance” in which George Takei’s character, his eyes glistening with tears, reconciles with his conflicted past and finds a promise of comfort that has eluded him for more than 50 years. The knowledge that the story was inspired by Takei’s childhood…
ASSOCIATED PRESS REVIEW OF ALLEGIANCE
Internment camps, racial discrimination and an atomic bomb blast are challenging topics to incorporate into a satisfying night of theater. The heavy-handed, cliche-driven “Allegiance” which opened Sunday at the Longacre Theatre tries to take on all three — but does so unsuccessfully in a bombastic and generic…
NBC NEW YORK REVIEW OF ALLEGIANCE
“Allegiance” is the new Broadway musical inspired by “Star Trek” alum George Takei’s experience in Japanese internment camps during World War II. It’s a poignant and well-crafted story, with a title that operates on multiple levels. Here, allegiance refers to the loyalty we feel for country. And, obligations…
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