See it if Want to see plays by & about the Asian-American experience, enjoy mysteries about one’s background,
Don't see it if Not interested in Asian-American takes told in a noir style or stories about trying to find one’s roots, open ended plots
See it if interesting aesthetic as story channels pulpy detective novels & video screens evoke film noir; humor leavens; solid cast
Don't see it if takes implausible left turn at end; ultimately w/o crisp plotting or deep insights into behavior of son/family, lets you down Read more
See it if Like cautiously walking through a murder mystery in a long standing San Francisco fog for the picture to emerge.
Don't see it if Slower murder mysteries aren't your thing. Entertaining but cold narration style made it harder to feel the emotional side of the drama. Read more
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 U enjoy a great ensemble cast solving a cold case mystery from 20 years ago with romance and a thought provoking story.
Don't see it if U don’t like mysteries, prefer more linear story lines or musicals.
See it if You like Family drama that is not what it seems to be. Intriguing writing. Great use of live camera projections. Memories are bad narrators
Don't see it if 90 minutes with no intermission. You don’t like mysteries or family secrets. You don’t like bare sets. Character breaks fourth wall
See it if You enjoy watching cold case mysteries on TV, this should be your cup of tea. Good production values but acting is less than convincing.
Don't see it if Expect depth in the story of a young man discovering family secrets. Underdeveloped characters give little to think about beyond “who dunit”
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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