"Clearly narrative logic is not a high priority for Wakka Wakka...But the puppets, designed by Mr. Waage, have such distinctive personalities that the plot’s absurdities rarely intrude on our enjoyment...The many inanimate objects that populate the show are brought to life with a magical vividness that enchants. The romantic comedy and sociopolitical polemic aspects of 'Made in China' may not always be smoothly integrated, but the show’s visual allure never ceases."
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"Wakka Wakka’s madly audacious new show, 'Made in China,' defies labels. It is, somehow, a musical satirical romantic puppet thriller...'Made in China' takes full advantage of the freedom that being a puppet show affords. Seven skilled performers, hidden in black clothes and veils, wrangle Waage’s full-body puppets in a variety of inventive sequences...The show may be a little messy—the personal plot is more sharply defined than the political one—but it’s packed with happy surprises."
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"A surprisingly thoughtful story about the rise of modern China and our relationship to it as American consumers...Warnock and Waage's caffeinated and rigorous staging mostly offsets the effects of the unshorn script...The tone of 'Made in China' is so often derisive that it is difficult to tell when the creators are being sincere...We walk away from the theater with a feeling of profound ambivalence, suspicious of the stuff in our apartments and wanting to know more."
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"A very entertaining, socially relevant adult puppet show…It is a completely mesmerizing performance that enjoys excellent direction...'Made In China' explores the important subjects of human rights, consumerism and morality with humor and heart…It features 30 wonderfully crafted puppets, seven incredibly talented and versatile puppeteers, original music, and animated video…The fast-paced dialogue is clever, yet thoughtful…’Made in China’ is storytelling at its very finest."
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"In truth, ‘Made in China’ is headed in so many directions at once, it's hard to know what to make of it all. Its socioeconomic points are glancing at best…The script scrambles after laughs in various unseemly ways…So much creativity, so much bad taste: Despite the mastery of the theatre crafts on display, 'Made in China' is a silly, superficial entertainment that pretends to a significance it can't really attain while aiming shockingly low for laughs."
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"One of the most engaging shows to hit the stage this season...Although the whys and wherefores of the events in this show are not always clear, the characters are so appealing and the action moves so quickly, such considerations seem minor...'Made in China' combines the global story of Chinese forced labor with an intimate story of love and fulfillment between two isolated individuals. And it does so with humor, pathos and commitment."
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"Unfortunately, the dogs are ditched about halfway through—when the shows big plot twist arrives—and the effects are noticeable. Mary and Eddie's characters are not very amicable in nature, nor are they very likable either. Sure, they are written genuinely, but as the show gets weirder and weirder, the focus strays from that of the duo's relationship to an obstructive and confusing political commentary which is both distracting and unclear."
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"In the most hilarious, brilliant, and over-the-top way imaginable, the ensemble carries the characters through trials and tribulations that are simultaneously preposterous and painfully realistic…Certainly there is some room for improvement when it comes to clarification and accuracy of specific historical facts…But the company’s approach to this issue is direct, sincere, and passionate, yet also sympathetic with a sense of humor. And that is indeed quite the formula for good theatre."
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