No-No Boy

Ambitious, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Absorbing, Resonant

February 18th, 2018

See it if you are interested in the history of the Japanese internment camps in the US & what happened after performed by large all-Asian cast

Don't see it if you don't like works with minimal sets & costumes representing multiple locations or depictions of war injuries, poor mental states

NS
Manhattan
65+ |

246 reviews

Absorbing, Ambitious, Great acting, Intelligent, Thought-provoking

February 12th, 2018

See it if You want to see a rarely addressed slicde of american history, how we doubly mistreated Japanese Americans. Truly painful and shocking.

Don't see it if If you want another fluffy theater theater visit. This show will knock the wind out of you. It should be required in times like these.

Jeryl M
Matawan
50-64 | Female

201 reviews

Intelligent, Intense, Great staging, Great acting, Thought-provoking

February 14th, 2018

See it if you like shows that deal with serious subjects.

Don't see it if you prefer light entertainment that doesn't make you think.

Shereeka
Brooklyn
Female

72 reviews

Absorbing, Delightful, Entertaining, Ambitious, Resonant

February 13th, 2018

See it if you enjoy history, storytelling, period drama and good acting.

Don't see it if you are claustrophobic, there are 8 actors on a very small stage and if you have a full house that day, its hard not to feel fenced in.

Critic Reviews (5)

Helen Shaw |

February 11th, 2018

"A rare, vivid insight into Japanese-American life after WWII...Nakahara pares the story to the bone...Narasaki’s theatrical adaptation has the same trouble as many stage treatments: a story of private contemplation becomes a string of episodes and loses its narrative voice...In the hope of makin...
read more

Arpita Mukherjee |

February 15th, 2018

"Narasaki’s adaptation parses through a dense and layered novel to find the dramatic action necessary to portray the text theatrically. The cast is excellent...There was no lighting design: the lights stay on the whole time...The actors sometimes have to awkwardly come out of character in front o...
read more

Darryl Reilly |

June 23rd, 2016

for a previous production "There are over ten well-rendered characters whose situations and emotions are vividly dramatized...Presenting this epic story with a large cast in such a very small space as it is being done at Theatre Row’s Studio Theatre is problematic visually...Director Ron Nakahara’s staging is resourceful ...
read more

Bruce Chadwick |

June 27th, 2016

for a previous production "'No-No Boy' is a very good play with a harsh, scalding beginning, but it has some weaknesses. One big problem the play should have addressed was the legal standing of Japanese-American men...Much of the success of the play is due to spirited work by skilled director Ron Nakahara. You have to giv...
read more