Vietgone NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (197)
See it if you enjoy a lighthearted love story set against the historical backdrop of Vietnamese immigrants after the Vietnam war.
Don't see it if you don't enjoy plays about love or war. Read more
See it if you like hip hop music, history lesson about the Vietnam war, and a love story.
Don't see it if you are offended with the use of the "f" words.
See it if You remember the Airlift and want to know more about those people and what happened to them. You like a quirky romance.
Don't see it if You are a prude. You want to see the Vietnamese people as not quite like us. Read more
See it if An optimistic and quirky love story arising from the Vietnam war, with a perspective on the war and immigrating to America that is rare.
Don't see it if I think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you think you wouldn't like a story about Vietnam War refugees. Their story is the American story.
See it if War's tragic outcome seen from perspective of S. Vietnamese helicopter pilot. Hijinx in relocation camp could not be funnier. Hip-hop, too
Don't see it if Uncomfortable denunciations of anti-war correctness. Raymond Lee & Jennifer Ikeda lead a stellar cast. Clever use of contemporary language.
See it if u dig issues of identity & home & immigration & emigration & stereotypes turned upside down to crazy inventive, humorous, poignant effect
Don't see it if you don't dig original, timely, important work. Read more
See it if If you enjoy a fresh approach to theater, with just the right mix of comedic and serious moments.
Don't see it if you only like traditional plays
See it if You like to have your assumptions challenged, like plays w historical reference, appreciate clever staging/projections, like work by MTC.
Don't see it if You don't like rap, loud music/sounds, don't like work about different cultures or experiences, not interested in a new POV about Vietnam. Read more
Critic Reviews (38)
"'Vietgone' is a must-see...It has laughs, ninjas, a serious rap flow, and a rare perspective on the Vietnam War...Nguyen's insights on the Vietnamese perspective are fascinating...'Vietgone' assures that you are always spiritually connected to the characters' stories by, again, having a marvelously talented cast...'Vietgone' truly is a poignant tale for our current socio-political atmosphere. Wonderfully directed by May Adrales."
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"In Mr. Nguyen's eyes, America is far from perfect—and he actually nails the stereotypical types throughout the south and west...A bit too zany at times (it was the '70s after all) and a bit too long and drawn out in others—this play has a future if tightened and given a general tune-up...The story of the actual South Vietnamese is one we Americans rarely consider...Not all of these questions get answered but the last 10 minutes of the play will bring the entire piece to a crescendo close."
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"A high-octane, swiftly hysterical, well-crafted experience. A mash-up of rap, hip-hop, and characters that never say die, it is a super-smart, irresistible way to talk about war...But it’s not a musical–it’s a play and an experience, and originally theatrical. So, I tip my hat to 'Vietgone,' precisely and well-directed by May Adrales, who has found the right tone and color to make this extremely engaging."
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"With 'Vietgone,' Nguyen manages to address the multifaceted experiences of being an Asian American but also successfully subvert casting traditions and the argot stereotypically associated with Asian culture as far as the U.S. is concerned...'Vietgone' falls short with its minimalist musical score...Irrespective, with a talented cast of entertainers with comic gold chops, 'Vietgone' remains a poignant, touching, waggish and even awe-inspiring love letter to America's global village."
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"The springiness in the script is enhanced by May Adrales's vivid staging, which features confessional rap interludes, a hallucinatory fight sequence, and graphic-novel-like projections designed by Jared Mezzocchi...It's funny, it flips the script on a very real language barrier, and it centralizes Vietnamese characters in a story about the Vietnam War (for once). In doing so, it reminds us of the human stories behind our own era's displaced."
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"An eyeful of a show that doesn’t always succeed but ultimately packs a punch courtesy of a perspective-shifting monologue near the end of the show...Nguyen brings surprising sexuality to the table along with an 'I’ll-tell-the-story-my-way' insistence that is often refreshing even if, at times, exasperating."
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"The play has geeks, tongue-in-cheek fight scenes and action that could have sprung from a comic book targeted to millennials wearing thick black glasses and skinny jeans...The play moves back and forth in time in a hectic rhythm that can make it tricky initially to keep track of the characters and the chronology...'Vietgone' careens wildly, threatening whiplash to heighten our amusement. By the end, however, this riotous theatrical cartoon won me over with its simple honesty."
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"You'll be in for a surprise if you go expecting to see noble suffering and eventual triumph among refugees. Delightfully, Mr. Nguyen turns the Ugly American stereotype on its ear...Director May Adrales paces the action quickly, with cast members often making fast changes and often popping up as someone else...South Coast Rep commissioned this piece and supported Mr. Nguyen through the research and development process. It was a good investment."
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