See it if Enjoy mysteries, family dramas, homage to San Francisco, distinct Asian-American tendencies woven into show, use of projections
Don't see it if Don't like noir; prefer linear storytelling; want big, grand gestures
See it if you're a fan of true crime or mysteries and/or of Christopher Chen's work; support diverse stories in the theatre, love San Francisco
Don't see it if you're in the mood for something heightened and uber-theatrical, a "big show."
See it if you want a twist on film noir genre and to dive into what feels like a visual staging of a personal crime podcast.
Don't see it if you want something traditional. Also don't see this if you hate monologue-based plays b/c the lead character is narrating the entire time.
See it if You love a good noir detective story; you love a well-written, nuanced drama with a fresh take on family secrets
Don't see it if you like big staging, big casts, music; need a happy ending
See it if you’d enjoy a tight, engaging kinda who-done-it that smartly raises profundity moral and cultural dilemmas.
Don't see it if you're disinclined to pay close attention.
See it if You appreciate a slow-boil, relationship-based play with well-rounded characters.
Don't see it if You don’t like talky shows. Read more
See it if you enjoy the current "sleuthing" trend of solving mysteries. You enjoy fine acting by Asian-Americans and a tight ensemble cast.
Don't see it if You hate projections. You dislike family dramas or mysteries. Read more
See it if You enjoy plays that are both character studies and plot driven.
Don't see it if You want a play you can drift in and out of. Read more
"‘The Headlands’ Nods to San Francisco Noir: A cold case. An amateur sleuth. A new clue. But sometimes the murder isn’t the real mystery."
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3/5 Stars "Taking his time as the plot unravels, Adams elicits believable performances from the entire cast...Considering the intense nature of the story, it’s strange how rarely it stirs the pulse. Intellectually stimulating but emotionally distant, it lands in your head but goes no further."
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"Men to Watch in 'Cambodian Rock Band', 'Blues for an Alabama Sky,' and 'The Headlands'"
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"'The Headlands' Blends Film Noir, Crime Thriller, and Family Drama: An amateur sleuth sets out to solve his father's murder mystery in Christopher Chen's new play at LCT3."
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"Christopher Chen's Detective Drama 'THE HEADLANDS' Unravels a Family Mystery"
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"A noirish and inventive mix of gradually darkening humor, family drama, and the vicissitudes of memory."
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3/5 Stars. "Christopher Chen raises provocative stakes in this complicated family history, but with unengaging characters"
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Score: 95%. "A clever enticing tale told in such a beguiling way that if you like plays that tell a good story, this is for you."
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