Somebody's Daughter NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (44)
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. Read more
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
Critic Reviews (9)
"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."
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“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.”
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“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.”
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"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."
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“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.”
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"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."
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"'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."
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“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.”
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