June is the First Fall

See it if Beautifully interwoven themes of estrangement, identity, culture & family. A modern take on the son who leaves home and later returns.

Don't see it if You won't enjoy a complex family drama about people trying to get to know each other in ways they could not when they were younger.

Also I grew emotionally attached to this group of people with a difficult past, trying to find their way forward as a family. It made me think about the struggle for connection in my own family.... Read more Read less

See it if Liu's coming-out drama as much about cultural identity as about queerness Well acted by ensemble despite author's lean towards cliche Set A+

Don't see it if Scenes tend to be slighty overwritten giving piece an unwanted slowness "Ghost" mother as catalyst underused Fervent tone throughout helps

See it if you’re interested in seeing how a son’s being gay could reverberate through 1 Chinese-American family.

Don't see it if you are looking for a consistently dramatic script.

Also I was glad to see “June is the First Fall,” which explores the spiky relationships of a young adult Chinese-American gay man with his surviving family members. It held my interest throughout. But I don’t feel the play is fully successful. Many of the central family’s conflicts, which 1st surfaced years ago, are spoken of in the dialog but not satisfactorily embodied before our eyes. The few scenes that are embodied, such as a flashback in which the family’s teenage gay son knows for sure he’s attracted to other guys, are insightful & even lovely. The talky scenes go by slowly. But the final “number”, in which we experience the play’s recurring ghost in her full loopy glory, is almost worth a visit all on its own!... Read more Read less

See it if Interested in Chinese-American playwright, support Asian artists, enjoy gay stories with family secrets & tropical setting

Don't see it if don't like plays with gay characters or family struggles involving gay issues, don't like 'coming home after many years' plots

See it if you like family drama set in current times with current issues, well acted on an impressive set with some humor, good lighting and sound.

Don't see it if you have no appreciation for other cultural differences or family dynamics.

See it if Family drama about going home with topics of sexual, loss, struggles and family trying to reconnect.

Don't see it if seeing a show about struggles of people.

Also I enjoyed the most were scene of Son with Mother and Son with Father were very touching.... Read more Read less

See it if Interested in gay acceptance stories (or lack thereof) within a family/culture that struggles with it. About family dynamics/understanding.

Don't see it if Want satisfying resolution to disparate story threads. This feels like the writer is still working thru a personal drama of their own.

See it if You want a private view of a family blown depart by the death of the matriarch. Very compelling side stories that come together.

Don't see it if You are looking for a light and breezy evening.

See it if you want to explore conflict of stereotypical young gay urban male lifestyle with first gen Chinese immigrant low middle class family values

Don't see it if you cringe at gay male humor, imagery, and contact and trite coming out stories, or do not care about immigrant Chinese American experiences

See it if your apartment is being exterminated and you needed to hang out someplace for two hours.

Don't see it if you were looking for a well crafted drama about an Asian father dealing with the acceptance of his gay son against a family death memoriam.

See it if you like family dramas about cultural traditions and LGBTQ issues

Don't see it if you're not comfortable with LGBTQ characters or are looking for lighter material

See it if Moving well-written drama that will leave you in tears. I loved it!

Don't see it if No reasons not to go.

See it if To appreciate a coming out story taking up some specific cultural references of the Chinese-Hawaiian community

Don't see it if Unexplained plot references bother you

Also The play defies some conventions in good ways and there are several strong dramatic moments.

There are two important under explained plot points that really bothered me & made it harder for me to understand motivation.... Read more Read less

See it if you love family stories, you love immigrant stories, you enjoy touches of magic realism

Don't see it if you must have a happy resolution at the end, you want a lot of action

Also This is a sincere work and the characters are believable as is their interactions and their conflicts... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a play that deal with lgbt, family dynamics, emotional dialogue wt parents, flashback wt memories of the past unraveled

Don't see it if You have no interest in gay community, dont care about Chinese Culture, family drama, estrangement from family. Dont like small venues

Also Really beautifully written play with amazing cast and interesting subject that is still relevant.... Read more Read less

See it if you like a well-produced family play that breaks no new ground

Don't see it if you expect anything out of the ordinary

See it if You want to see some good acting about a family dealing with both the death of the matriarch and the acceptance of a gay son.

Don't see it if You may not enjoy a different culture's reaction to issues of acceptance of a gay son. You are expecting a happy ending with problem solved.

Also The actors were all very good and intense. I was left with some questions at the end. Seemed like it could have dealt further with the issues at hand. No clear resolutions.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re into LGBTQ theme or American immigrant stories; esp. relatable to Chinese in America; great set design;

Don't see it if Unbalanced acting.. the father-son relationship looks a bit superficial; some actor aims for laughter and misses the subtlety between lines

See it if you like intimate setting/venue/staging that puts you close & almost personal for effective theater/drama immersion. Family drama w/ a heart

Don't see it if you want a feel-good play/musical- as this will bring you to dark emotions of despair, longing, heartache, regret- as well delivered by cast

See it if Family values are under attack when you don’t know how to cope or conform. Quite moving performance with many complex cultural issues

Don't see it if Snippy sarcastic humor with slightly awkward chemistry between the actors.

Also The more I think about this play, the more impressive it feels. Throw in cultural clash with a language barrier, self-identity crisis, LGBTQ, immense amount of guilt over a tragedy, racism and family roles are all layered in to this beautiful and poignant drama. Mom was my favorite and I very much love the way this play ends. Quite emotional.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays with LBGTQ themes.

Don't see it if you don't like plays with LBGTQ themes.

Also I found the play to be unfocused and am not sure what the playwright is trying to say. Or maybe he's saying too many things. This is a story about a Chinese/American gay man returning home to Hawaii from New York after a 10 year absence. But why did he return? It's not clear. He has memories of his mother who has died and he feels responsible. But why? There's his relationship with his sister and his father and how they have or have not come to terms with him being gay. There's a confusing relationship between his sister and her boyfriend. There are themes about maintaining the Chinese heritage/traditions. In the end, the man returns to New York but I couldn't figure out what/who has really changed. I found the acting to be acceptable (this was an early preview). Three cheers for the set designer.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in issues of identity across generations, immigrant narratives, gentle and thoughtful explorations of changing memory

Don't see it if you can't sit through 90 minutes without intermission

See it if you are interested in a story about a young gay man's coming to terms with his traditional Chinese family's acceptance.

Don't see it if you are looking for an engaging play with an original perspective.

See it if like layered, emotional family dramas or memory plays well staged, acted, and designed. Many of the scenes have a beautiful sadness to them.

Don't see it if you don't like LGBT themes.

See it if You are interested in the complexities of being gay in a Chinese American family.

Don't see it if If you’re not interested in family acceptance of a gay son.