Somebody's Daughter
About the show
Second Stage Theatre presents this world premiere drama about three women from different generations who find their identities in question. More…
Alex is a 15-year-old Asian-American girl going to extremes to get her own mother to notice her. She’s a dream child—except to her parents who wish she were a boy. Luckily, she finds a sympathetic ear in Kate, her irreverent guidance counselor who knows all too well what it’s like to walk in Alex’s shoes. Who makes the identity rules and what happens when you break them?
"'Somebody’s Daughter' has it all: crisp comedy, interesting, complex characters, and two parallel plots that are all over each other yet each strong enough to stand on their own. And this production boasts a cast whose members are immersed in their roles with a passion that’s both consuming and nonchalant…Adrales’ direction is as sharp as Hutchinson’s dialogue…It delivers a steady stream of hearty laughs, while at the same time truly engaging the audience on a compelling emotional level." Full Review
“An edge-of-your-seat drama, which is now inducing collective gasps and heart palpitations at Second Stage Uptown…Director May Adrales weaves all of these threads into a complex tapestry with her efficient yet detailed production…'Somebody's Daughter' is a gripping work…Ordinarily, any one of these topics would be enough to sustain a play, but Hutchinson cleverly ties them all together in one deeply satisfying drama. She is undeniably a playwright to watch going forward.” Full Review
"Hutchinson has fire in the belly about things that matter — the sting of racism, for instance, and the toxicity of intolerance; and that's what makes 'Somebody's Daughter' a rather special work of art...At times, Hutchinson's characterizations tread a thin line between recognizable ethnic attributes and stereotype...But the play's facile moments are redeemed by a number of complex, well-wrought scenes...Adrales's skilled direction gives 'Somebody's Daughter' focus, drive and intensity." Full Review
“Hutchinson’s smart and insightful play deftly skirts the pitfalls of slickness…Hutchinson is equally adept at depicting adolescent angst, quarter-life quandaries and sexual muddles of middle age. It’s exciting to be drawn into a multilayered drama in which female characters are the driving force. Hutchinson’s engaging drama leaves you questioning the scripts that women are still too often heir to.” Full Review
"There are specifics about family relationships in Asian culture...yet what it means to be somebody's daughter is universal...I was thoroughly engaged in these daughters' stories and found myself unexpectedly moved toward the end. Alex's journey is part coming of age, and deals with first love; I usually groan at such story lines, finding them trite, but not this time...I was comforted to see the way these women grew and came to terms with being somebody's daughter." Full Review
“Despite some structural problems with the plot, ‘Somebody's Daughter’ is a rich and powerful play that is likely to trigger strong responses in its audience, running the gamut from laughter, to sympathy, to outrage…Thanks to the sharp-as-tacks dialogue, the thoroughly excellent performances, and Adrales' confident direction, each of these strands is fully explored...While the ending comes off as rather pat, it is likely you will leave the theater eager to talk about what you have seen.” Full Review
“While there are plenty of laughs in ‘Somebody’s Daughter,’ it’s no laughing matter…There’s a lot going on here. Culture clashes, sexism, racism, intergenerational issues, coming-of-age narratives, young love. And there are a lot of stereotypes being confronted, explored and exploded, not skirted, which is refreshing and healing…In general I was impressed with Ms. Hutchinson’s insight into and understanding of the Chinese-American experience.” Full Review
"Both Alex and the play struggle to buck formula and stereotype...Adrales tends to encourage larger-than-life performances, which can be engaging, though also a little exhausting...With so many strands and themes, Hutchinson’s plotting sometimes slips into melodrama, while perpetuating unhelpful myths about Asian families and female fertility. The best scenes, which are the talkiest and the least given over to plot, instead showcase Ms. Hutchinson’s dry, roguish, gutsy voice." Full Review
"There is a solid foundation for a play here, but Hutchinson has plenty of trouble building on it. She aims for a bright, wisecracking style that, all too often, is cringeworthy...Lame attempts at wit prevent one from caring about the characters, who are perilously thin and often all too easy to dislike and dismiss...May Adrales' direction doesn't ameliorate these flaws, and, in some instances, may aggravate them." Full Review
See it if you want to see a strong play with a unique topic and masterful performances.
Don't see it if you don't like stories about teenagehood.
See it if you are not familiar with the Asian-American experience.
Don't see it if you have no empathy.
See it if you are interested in the concept of three generations of Asian-American women, who are not necessarily related.
Don't see it if you do not like unbalanced plays: the first act is excellent; the second act tends to sag.
Also The directions of May Adrales is excellent as is the set design by Lee... Read more Read less
See it if Nice look into aspects of the Chinese community adapting to the U.S.. Thought provoking re: various views re cultures. Makes one think...
Don't see it if Avoid front row re. views of the great stage set. The site is always cold. Bring a sweater
See it if you want to be entertained w/ a fine young cast w/ excellent social infused material & solid staging for small space; millenials would enjoy
Don't see it if you dont like perceived asian stereotypes, bi racial relationships or sexual and parential conflict themes
See it if You want to see a fascinating play about the special circumstances of Asian American families caused by their strict societal customs.
Don't see it if You have no interest in the special problems of Asian Americans. You are wanting to see a comedy. Physical violence is part of this drama.
See it if you are interested in asian cultural and family issues, or if you enjoy examining different cultural and racial points of view.
Don't see it if you do not like stories of disfunctional families and relationships or if you are not interested in varied points of view.
See it if you enjoy timely plays about race, assimilation and generalizations combined with familial expectations
Don't see it if you don't like slightly challenging and thought provoking pieces
See it if you enjoy family dramas that deal with contemporary issues in a funny, entertaining way, share a commitment to Asian-American theatre
Don't see it if you can't relate to the Asian-American subculture or super-Tiger moms, don't like family stories
See it if you'd like a lively look at three women of different generations navigating worlds, coping and understanding
Don't see it if stereotypes made fun of re serious issues is no laughing matter for you
See it if you enjoy a show developed around Chinese-American culture & the problems that develop, and inter-racial relationship problems
Don't see it if you aren't interested is shows dealing with family problems, interracial problems, or are offended by some profanity
Also Funny, sad, realistic, current. Show moved along & kept you involved. ... Read more Read less
See it if You want to see the world from a different cultural perspective. Three women examining possibilities and one's view of them.
Don't see it if You have no interest in domestic drama of any culture. You dont like a fresh approach to predictable drama
See it if Nice little show. Pleasant. Hits unexpected notes. Kept me engaged all the way through.
Don't see it if The flashbacks can be confusing. Michelle Kim needs a bit more seasoning before she can carry a lead. A subtle anti-abortion message.
See it if You want to see a play with some problems in content overridden by the thinking it forces of the audience.
Don't see it if You don't want to see a production dealing with stereotypes
See it if you want to see a new play tackling a very interesting subject that maybe needed a little bit more development to really hit home.
Don't see it if you'd feel cheated if you were fully engrossed in the plot as it unfurled, but when it ended you didn't know what it was trying to say.
See it if a story about Asians in a contemporary setting. A funny but refreshing story about the life of 3 Chinese women living in America.
Don't see it if cliches of Chinese American life (though while may be true, feels a bit pilled on together in this overly packed story).
Also Great cast and loved seeing multiple Asians on stage as the central pl... Read more Read less
See it if The female characters rule the day. See it for insights into stereotypical Chinese culture, racism, sexism, family turmoil & growing pains.
Don't see it if Some good insights, but overacted by one central character. The 1st act is more interesting and cohesive than the 2nd .
Also The play could use stronger direction and some tightening to the secon... Read more Read less
See it if you like stories about race and family, and aren't easily offended by racial stereotypes. The actors did the best they could with cliched
Don't see it if material, and a director who seemed to want her fingerprints all over every aspect of the show.
See it if you like good sets and good writing.Acting was weak; 4 of the 6 just didn't get beyond 1 dimensional portrayal. That means poor directing.
Don't see it if you want good acting & performances that are multidimensional and show nuanced characters.Everyone was shown on 1level.I blame the director
See it if You're interested in exploring the Tiger Mother concept.
Don't see it if You have issues with seeing Asians stereotypes on stage.
Cast & Creatives (13)
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