Made in China NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (97)
See it if clever, outrageous and breakthrough staging, puppets and characters can compensate for a preachy & somewhat confusing theme. Worked for me.
Don't see it if x-rated puppets are not your thing.
See it if Amazing puppetry! Interesting exportation of our US relationship to the things made in China and what the impaction is their and our lives.
Don't see it if The puppet nudity /sex is funny at first and then gets rather perverse. A large use of stereotyping on the US and Chiness side is exported.
See it if like thoroughly entertaining, some raunchiness, clever, wonderful staging & use of puppeteers all in black.
Don't see it if you don't like puppetry, some politics, and some profanity.
See it if You care about human rights, consumerism, & your fellow man, enjoy shows with a message, like puppetry done masterfully. Dark but funny.
Don't see it if You don't want politics mixed in with your show. If you don't like puppets, or nude puppets with bawdy banter & profanity. Not for the kids.
See it if the art of puppetry is executed to perfection to engage you with the story; the protagonists are no longer puppets, but living creatures.
Don't see it if you consider puppetry a children’ genre.
See it if you are looking for an adult puppet show with a message and a bizarre fantasy story. It was crazy but I enjoyed it.
Don't see it if you don't like puppet shows, don't want a preachy theme shoved down your throat. Are offended by naked puppets.
See it if You enjoy ingenious puppet shows
Don't see it if If you don't.
See it if You want a thought provoking experience, this was surprisingly entertaining, funny, and poignant
Don't see it if You dislike puppets and puppet "sex"; topics of globalization and reflecting on how our actions impact others thousands of miles away
Critic Reviews (21)
"While the puppetry is of a high order, this musical’s theatrics mask a disappointing vacuity at the heart of the endeavor. The socio-political content of the piece seldom rises above simplistic disavowals of alleged Chinese labor practices and American obsession with money and consumer durables...It’s natural to wonder whether a clash of aesthetics among such disparate contributors may not be the cause of this show’s anemic socio-political perspective and the haphazard nature of its narrative."
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"Brightly gripping, and written and directed in a classic fabulist style, it’s replete with innovative marvels of illusion; moreover, it centers on two of the more memorable puppet characters I’ve had the pleasure of meeting...The story deepens into sociopolitical commentary even as it expands into increasingly impressive feats of puppetry...For the most part, the story’s disparate elements turn out to have meaning as part of a cohesive narrative. There’s even a satisfying full-circle aspect."
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"The genius of 'Made in China' is that with puppetry, everything is the same degree of artificial, which means that everything you see on that stage is equally real...American complicity in this Chinese industrial complex is touched on in a few moments in the play, but could certainly have been highlighted more...All together, 'Made in China' is an impressive creation, an entertaining glimpse into the everyday and the fantastical all in one musical journey."
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"Anyone who does not like fantasy definitely will not enjoy this show. However, if you are interested in something that is completely different, you may enjoy the show. The puppeteers are talented and portray their characters well...The show is a musical although most of the songs are not very memorable...All in all the show is a very unique theatrical experience just not for children."
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"The Wakka Wakka ensemble has truly put together something special...By the time the production ends, we have both laughed out loud and invested emotions as hard as the laughs for them...The technical aspects of this show were all top-notch…‘Made In China’ is one of those shows I couldn’t recommend enough...It asks a lot from the audience. But it rewards you with an experience you will not find easy anywhere else, and for that we should celebrate."
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