June is the First Fall NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (39)
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 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 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 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. Read more
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 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 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 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. Read more
Critic Reviews (5)
“Written with sensitivity toward all its players, the piece offers a compassionate window into the intersection of Chinese culture, queerness, and gender roles...’June is the First Fall’ is a tight, compact evening of drama. Gut-wrenching moments spill out at the end...Though the exploding catharsis feels somewhat disconnected from its rather clean resolution, it also does achieve satisfaction through its crumbles of drama.”
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"Going to the West Village to see a show touted as 'a queer play about mooncakes' has all the promise in the world, but this one falls short on ingenuity... As Don tries to reconcile his culture with his identity, he's increasingly squelched by the island (resulting in increasing whining)... I could do with fewer by-the-numbers lines…The scenes that feel the richest involve the whole family sharing anecdotes about Chinese traditions…It's our familiar stories that connect us."
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“Memories are scattered throughout this endearing study of culture, family and personal growth...While the situations explored in this play are not unique, the relaxed pace gives this material a fresh smell...A good cast of actors...’June is the First Fall’ addresses the ghosts of the past which linger in our heads...Well directed by Leibenluft, this story is smoothly paced to unravel this family’s secrets and hopes and learnings.”
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“While the role of Asian culture is certainly present in this play, the theme that lies at the core of the plot is the complex emotions and strong tensions that many parents and their LGBTQ children face even to this day. That’s something that...is explored in-depth and on a very human level in this play...The ensemble of actors do a flawless job bringing these emotionally and psychologically complex characters to life...A strong contender for the best play I’ve seen so far in 2019.”
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"Exceptional among all the cast was Chun Cho playing the mother Yu Qin. Every time she appeared, magic happened. All her lines were delivered in Chinese which made her scenes musical and ethereal. The climactic scene which revealed the heart of the story was in both Chinese and English. It seemed a poignant dance that was breathtaking and beautifully directed by Michael Leibenluft. A worthy play that addresses immigrant, LGBTQ and cultural issues."
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