A Deal NYC Reviews and Tickets

79%
(48 Reviews)
Positive
85%
Mixed
13%
Negative
2%
Members say
Relevant, Entertaining, Intelligent, Absorbing, Clever

About the Show

In Urban Stages' dark comedy, Mr. and Mrs. Li, like many new upper-middle-class Chinese families, are proud to give their daughter a life they could only dream of, but they soon realize she’s turning into a dangerous stranger.

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Member Reviews (48)

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716 Reviews | 219 Followers
65
Quirky, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Inconsistent, Incoherent

See it if Exaggerated characters do stupid things that raise Chinese-American immigrant issues. Good for raising awareness.

Don't see it if Characters act in ways inconsistent with their earlier selves. I could no longer suspend my disbelief. Rolling my eyes by the end.

520 Reviews | 107 Followers
22
Disappointing

See it if You are interested in a subject that involves proud Chinese parents trying to come to grips with their daughter leaving behind theirculture

Don't see it if You are expecting a polished production Read more

384 Reviews | 81 Followers
55
Cliched, Ambitious, Dizzying, Insipid, Indulgent

See it if An unrealistic relationship between a wealthy traditional Chinese couple and their US educated daughter .

Don't see it if If you prefer musicals or well written dramas.

302 Reviews | 34 Followers
80
Entertaining, Intelligent, Thought-provoking

See it if You are interested in a play based on the changing identity of the Chinese and how it is influenced by their changing economic reality

Don't see it if You want a big production with songs that will leave you whistling this is an intimate entertainment

240 Reviews | 69 Followers
90
Great writing, Relevant, Masterful, Funny, Clever

See it if You'd like to see a play about the great cultural divide between America and China, as people caught in the middle sort out their identity

Don't see it if You struggle to keep up with accents, you don't appreciate dark comedy, you can't relate to stories of immigration and culture clash.

220 Reviews | 171 Followers
86
Great acting, Great staging, Great writing, Relevant, Intelligent

See it if This play delves into the psyches of a You prefer characters. It exposes the flaws and humanity of both cultures.

Don't see it if I can’t think of a reason not to see it

207 Reviews | 36 Followers
80
Entertaining, Great acting, Great writing, Intelligent, Relevant

See it if you are interested in Chinese families undergoing intergenerational conflict or the problems of first-generation Americans

Don't see it if you only want a happy ending or expect just one-liners Read more

147 Reviews | 39 Followers
75
Relevant, Funny, Intelligent, Well-acted, Ambitious

See it if You like to compare and contrast cultures, ideologies, and generations. Serious issues, breezy treatment.

Don't see it if You seek answers. This play raises myriad questions and concludes that the problems are insoluble.

Critic Reviews (3)

Theater Pizzazz
November 20th, 2017

“A play that was crying to be written, its subject matter now front and center...It touches many of the great issues of today: Chinese values versus American; the family versus the individual; what constitutes truth and in whose eyes; the immigrant’s dilemma—to remain voluntarily ghettoized or to assimilate...’A Deal’ is interesting, innovative—it’s structured in a series of vignettes—and thought-provoking. It’s also rich with humor...The work is splendidly directed by John Giampietro.”
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Theatre's Leiter Side
November 27th, 2017

“Yi's well-performed…play covers a few too many bases within its episodic, roughly 90-minute format, preventing it from going very deeply into any of them, but it manages to be consistently entertaining and informative…Most of this is offered on a lightly satirical platter, creating a tone more sitcom than serious dramatic exposé… Wei-Yi Lin makes a fine impression as the daughter torn between her parents' values and her goal of American success, and she's capably backed by the supporting company.”
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Diandra Reviews it All
November 22nd, 2017

“‘A Deal’ explores the illusory deals society makes to human beings that cross international waters like, 'work hard get rewarded 'or simply 'trust that life will guide you right.' In America, our biggest promises are welcome and opportunities for all, and this play reveals the lie…‘A Deal’ feels like a series of scenes from a film…Su’s “origin” lies devastate her parents who gave her so much, but Zhu Yi’s riveting writing goes on to question them, as well, in terms of the lies we tell ourselves.”
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