Citizen Wong NYC Reviews and Tickets

58%

(5 Reviews)

Positive

40%

Mixed

40%

Negative

20%

Members say

Intelligent, Relevant, Disappointing, Too long, Absorbing

About the Show

This show follows the story of an activists' revolutionary fight against the "Chinese Exclusion Act."

Member Reviews (5)

Slow, Intelligent, Disappointing, Ambitious

See it if Interesting analogy to current illegal/legal immigration. Tension between needed workers and xenophobia.

Don't see it if Choppy. Constant parading across floor to speak lines then walk off. Not engaging. I would have liked to see this topic fleshed out.

Relevant

See it if Like a Chinese Forrest Gump going through Chinese American historical events. Fictional bits of Wong Chin Foo, the activist.

Don't see it if Needs editting: throws in major Chinese American history (esp anti-Asian violence) & current commentary (stop Asian hate). Could be smoother Read more

Too long, Disappointing, Simplistic

See it if you haven't a clue about the history of the Chinese in America

Don't see it if you were hoping to gain new insights into the decades old discrimination of Chinese-Americans Read more

Refreshing, Relevant, Profound, Enchanting

See it if you're interested in the 19th century history of a Chinese American activist who strives to build a more equal society for Asian Americans.

Don't see it if you are not interested in that part of history or prefer very polished musical.

Absorbing, Intelligent, Great acting

See it if Lead actor was wonderful....

Don't see it if You want to be bored

Critic Reviews (2)

"Mostly, though, 'Citizen Wong' offers a fairly straightforward account of the subject's life. Notably, there are Wong's skirmishes with Denis Kearney (Scott Klavan, who does well in several parts), an Irish labor leader and anti-Chinese firebrand. The play also highlights Wong's accomplishments establishing a bilingual newspaper and testifying in Congress about the laws created to prohibit Chinese immigration"
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"The story is important and relevant, as Wong is someone who should be more widely known. Unfortunately, the significant historical research behind the play is not yet fully integrated into the story or the characters; rather, it is conveyed through awkward asides of factoids and unnatural expository dialogue."
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