Allegiance

See it if you love to see all new musicals, whether successful or not. Here, a noble misfire. Subj matter would be better served in a straight play.

Don't see it if you want a strong book/songs. Clunkiness made this feel like a high school production. Uninspired staging. Bad lyrics. Unsatisfying plot.

Also I'm catching up on reviews of shows I saw. Allegiance tried hard, but the musical format was not suited to the important, dark material.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to learn about a side of America most know very little. This show is far from perfect but should be seen!! Some special moments.

Don't see it if You believe we should build that wall that the orange push up pop keeps talking about.

See it if You love Lea Salonga or George Takei

Don't see it if you're not a fan of high school-esque productions. The music is not good.

See it if you want to see what happens when an interesting story, which is well worth telling, is not told very well.

Don't see it if you need a show with real character development and well-written lyrics.

See it if You're a fan of George Takei and/or Lea Salonga. You want to see history portrayed on stage. You want a show about social issues.

Don't see it if You don't want social issues on stage. You want a well-defined story. You want to hear great music.

See it if You're very interested in Lea Salonga or learning about the Japanese internment.

Don't see it if You want to see a really well-crafted, groundbreaking musical.

See it if An interesting show about an important era in American history that is not well-known.

Don't see it if You can't handle knowing about an embarrassing page in your county's history.

See it if You like musicals with a message & the sound of 1940s big bands

Don't see it if You don't want to be reminded of questionable moments in history

See it if You love George Takei and Lea Salonga, and if you want to see a relatively fictionalized version of history. It was a feel good evening, tho

Don't see it if You are bothered by historical events being fictionalized very liberally for dramatic effect.

See it if To learn about a neglected time in US history To see how inhuman it is to judge people based blindly on their ethnic background

Don't see it if You like complex ambiguous plays.

See it if you want to see George Takei and Lea Salonga onstage.

Don't see it if you don't want to see a predictable story with generic ballads.

See it if you don't subscribe to the theater snobbery that gave this very important, heartfelt show a more tepid welcome than it should have received.

Don't see it if you wouldn't enjoy a sublime Lea Salonga, a heartrending George Takei, and a star-is-born turn by Telly Leung.

See it if you want a lesser known story of US history

Don't see it if you expected to be brought into the realities of Japanese internment-disappointed this somehow didn't connect the significance w/ audience

See it if You don't mind cliche plot, unmemorable songs, George Takei in a tiny role.

Don't see it if You're not a fan of musicals, if you expect an absorbing show with catchy songs

See it if you enjoy the history channel. Surprisingly & beautifully staged, highly emotional, touching (George Takei) & educational, with superb cast.

Don't see it if our history bores you. SO well-done and produced. We're able to learn, feel, empathize, and shake our heads in disgust at the same time.

See it if Rare depiction of the Japanese American struggle to endure racist treatment or to fight for a country that treats you like an enemy.

Don't see it if WWII narrative from interned Americans is too much of a dose of reality.

See it if you love ww2 history and lea salonga and George takei.

Don't see it if you want sad musical.

See it if you are interested in Asian-American history and learning more about this less than exemplary time on our history

Don't see it if you are looking for a big Broadway musical. While enjoyable, this may have worked better as a play

Also This was a captivating story and gave me great insight into Japanese culture. Disturbing at times and given the current political climate, a sad reminder that we may not have come as far as we thought. I think it is important to this piece of our history.... Read more Read less

See it if Had such high hopes, but ugh! except Lea, of course.

Don't see it if So sorry to say...avoid it.

See it if you are looking for a more diverse set of stories on the Broadway stage / you are a Lea Salonga fan

Don't see it if you are expecting greatness or significant originality in your storytelling or music

See it if You'd like to see a production with a biographical theme along with wonderful singing by Lea Salonga and Telly Leung.

Don't see it if You want only entertainment without any historical reference, and do not want to laugh, cry, and hum to some of the catchy tunes.

See it if Want to get to know George Takei. Love Lea Salonga. Open to revisiting a bleak period in US history.

Don't see it if America can do no wrong.

See it if you are of Japanese heritage, are interested in a dark passage in American history, follow Lea Salonga or George Takei, or want to be moved.

Don't see it if you can't overlook bad dialog or insipid music.

See it if You want to see a show that explores an often overlooked event in history that is relevant to today.

Don't see it if You want to see a show with a well written book and a unique score. You just want to see a "light" show.

Also I had very high hopes going into this show. Japanese-American internment camps are one of the most shameful acts in recent American history and there need to be more pieces of art depicting it to spread awareness.

Having that said, this particular show was a poor vehicle for that message.

The book is unbearably didactic. Hit you over the head with a hammer didactic.

The score is banal. It is Neither authentically Japanese, nor WWII era American. It's just a vanilla contemporary musical theatre score that I couldn't pick out of a lineup.

The Hiroshima scene though, is a standout. The lighting design alone is enough to bring anyone to tears.

Takei himself is also a notable mention. His performance is endearing and understated. And in fact the show is filled with an astounding amount of talent. But it can't be called upon with such a lackluster book and score.

Despite its shortcomings I hope this show has a long life on tour and regional theatre. It's an important message.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in history, or want to feel all the feelings.

Don't see it if You're not in the mood to have your heart stomped on.